Download Axis 240Q 4-Port Blade Video Server 10-pack

AXIS 240Q Video Server
User’s Manual
About This Document
This manual is intended for administrators and users of the
AXIS 240Q Video Server, and is applicable for firmware
release 4.40. It includes instructions for using and managing
the AXIS 240Q on your network. Previous experience of
networking will be of use when installing and using this
product. Some knowledge of UNIX or Linux-based systems
would also be beneficial, for developing shell scripts and
applications. Later versions of this document will be posted to
the Axis Website, as required. See also the product’s online
help, available via the Web-based interface.
Safety Notices Used In This Manual
Caution! - Indicates a potential hazard that can damage the
product.
Important! - Indicates a hazard that can seriously impair
operation.
Do not proceed beyond any of the above notices until you
have fully understood the implications.
Intellectual Property Rights
Axis AB has intellectual property rights relating to
technology embodied in the product described in this
document. In particular, and without limitation, these
intellectual property rights may include one or more of the
patents listed at http://www.axis.com/patent.htm and one or
more additional patents or pending patent applications in the
US and other countries.
This product contains licensed third-party software. See the
menu item “About” in the product’s user interface for more
information.
Legal Considerations
Camera surveillance can be prohibited by laws that vary from
country to country. Check the laws in your local region
before using this product for surveillance purposes. This
product includes one (1) MPEG-4 decoder license. To
purchase further licenses, contact your reseller.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the
separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the
equipment to an outlet on a different circuit to the receiver.
Consult your dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help. Shielded (STP) network cables must be used with
this unit to ensure compliance with EMC standards.
USA - This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B computing device pursuant to
Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to
provide reasonable protection against such interference when
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference,
in which case the user at his/her own expense will be
required to take whatever measures may be required to
correct the interference.
Canada - This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of the device
Europe -
This digital equipment fulfills the
AXIS COMMUNICATIONS
<Product
Name> Quick User’s Guide
requirements for radiated emission according to limit B of
EN55022/1998, and the requirements for immunity according to
EN55024/1998 residential, commercial, and light industry.
Liability
Every care has been taken in the preparation of this manual;
Please inform your local Axis office of any inaccuracies or
omissions. Axis Communications AB cannot be held responsible
for any technical or typographical errors and reserves the right to
make changes to the product and manuals without prior notice.
Axis Communications AB makes no warranty of any kind with
regard to the material contained within this document, including,
but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose. Axis Communications AB shall
not be liable nor responsible for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance or use of
this material.
Trademark Acknowledgments
Acrobat, Adobe, Boa, Ethernet, IBM, Internet Explorer, LAN
Manager, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netscape
Navigator, OS/2, UNIX, Windows, WWW are registered
trademarks of the respective holders. Java and all Java-based
trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Axis Communications AB is independent of Sun Microsystems
Inc. UPnP™ is a certification mark of the UPnP™ Implementers
Corporation.
Support Services
Should you require any technical assistance, please contact your
Axis reseller. If your questions cannot be answered immediately,
your reseller will forward your queries through the appropriate
channels to ensure a rapid response. If you are connected to the
Internet, you can:
• download user documentation and firmware updates
• find answers to resolved problems in the FAQ database. Search
by product, category, or phrases
• report problems to Axis support staff by logging in to your
private support area
• visit the Axis Support Web at www.axis.com/techsup/
Safety Notice - Battery Replacement
The AXIS 240Q uses a 3.0V CR2032 Lithium battery as the power
supply for its internal real-time clock (RTC). This battery will,
under normal conditions, last for a minimum of 5 years. Low
battery power affects the operation of the RTC, causing it to reset
at every power-up. A log message will appear when battery
replacement is required. The battery should not be replaced unless
required!
If the battery does need replacing, observe the following points:
• Caution! Danger of Explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced
• Replace only with the same or equivalent battery, as
recommended by the manufacturer.
• Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
AXIS 240Q User’s Manual
Revision 1.2, November 2006
Part No: 28039
Copyright© Axis Communications AB, 2006
AXIS 240Q
Table of contents
Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
AXIS 240Q Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
AXIS 240Q Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Using the video server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Accessing the video server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Live View page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Video Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Motion JPEG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The AXIS Media Control (AMC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Other methods of accessing the video stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Configuring the video server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accessing the Setup tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Video & Image Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Image Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Video Source Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Overlay/Mask settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Live View Config . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
HTML Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
External Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Sequence Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Event Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Event Servers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Event Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Motion Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Port Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Pan Tilt Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Installing PTZ Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
PTZ Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
PTZ Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Security - Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
802.1x - Network Admission Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Date & Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Network - Basic TCP/IP Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
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4
AXIS 240Q
Network - Advanced TCP/IP Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SOCKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
QoS (Quality of service) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
SMTP (email) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SNMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Network - UPnP™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Bonjour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ports & Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Advanced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Resetting to the Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Unit Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
The D-Sub Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
The I/O Terminal Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Schematic Diagram - I/O Terminal Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Checking the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Upgrading the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
General performance considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Optimizing your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Frame rates - Motion JPEG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Bandwidth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
AXIS 240Q - Product Description
Product Description
The AXIS 240Q is a fully featured video server for security surveillance and remote
monitoring needs. Based on the AXIS ARTPEC-2 compression chip, it can digitize up to 4
analog video sources and make these available on the network as real-time Motion JPEG
video streams, at a maximum frame rate of 5 (PAL) or 6 (NTSC) frames per second.
Video can be viewed in 5 resolutions (up to 4CIF), and image compression is configurable.
Up to 20 viewers can access the video server simultaneously.
The AXIS 240Q is equipped with RS-232 and RS-485 ports for the connection of third
party PTZ devices. It also has 4 alarm inputs and 4 alarm outputs, which can be used to
connect various third party devices, e.g. door sensors, alarm bells, etc.
The AXIS 240Q also contains support for video motion detection, which allows the unit to
trigger on activity in the video image, and advanced scheduling tools that can also be used
to trigger an event. As the video server is designed for use in security systems, it is
equipped with several security features, such as HTTPS, IP address filtering and multiple
user levels with passwords.
The AXIS 240Q has a built-in web server, providing full access to all features through the
use of a standard browser. The built-in scripting tool allows the creation of basic
applications, providing basic surveillance solutions.
For advanced functionality, the video server is easy to integrate through the use of the
AXIS HTTP API (see www.axis.com/developer).
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AXIS 240Q - Product Description
AXIS 240Q Front Panel
Indicators - After completion of the startup and self-test routines, the multi-colored
Network, Status, Power Indicators flash as follows:
Network
Unlit
No connection.
Green
Steady for connection to a 100 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Amber
Steady for connection to a 10 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.
Unlit
When configured for “no flash” on camera access.
Green
Steady for normal operation. Can be configured to flash green at intervals
whenever the camera is accessed. See the online help for more information.
Amber
Steady during startup, reset to factory default or when restoring settings.
Red
Slow flash for failed upgrade.
Green
Normal operation.
Amber
Flashes green/amber during firmware upgrade.
Status
Power
DIP Switches - A corresponding line termination switch for each of the supported video
inputs. All units are shipped with the line termination enabled for each video input; that is,
with the DIP switches set in the down position.
Note: If the AXIS 240Q is to be connected in parallel with other equipment, disable the input termination by
turning the corresponding DIP switch to the up position (OFF). Failure to do so may impair the image quality.
Control Button - Press this button to restore the factory default settings, as described in
Resetting to the Factory Default Settings, on page 46, or to install using AXIS Internet
Dynamic DNS Service (page 15).
Video Inputs - Accommodates up to 4 separate video sources (VIDEO 1 - VIDEO 4)
simultaneously. Each supported video input is connected using a coax/BNC connector.
Physical connections made using e.g. 75 Ohm coax video cable have a recommended
maximum length of 800 feet (250 meters).
AXIS 240Q - Product Description
AXIS 240Q Rear Panel
The Serial Number is
located on the label
on the underside of
the unit.
Power adapter connector - A single socket for connection of the PS-K power adapter.
I/O Terminal connector - The I/O Terminal connector provides the physical interface to 4
digital transistor outputs, 4 digital inputs and an RS-485 interface. See Unit Connectors, on
page 47 for more information.
Note: The I/O Terminal connector also provides an auxiliary connection point for DC
power.
Network Connector - The AXIS 240Q connects to the network via a standard network
cable. The AXIS 240Q detects the speed of the local network segment (10BaseT/100BaseTX
Ethernet).
RS-232 Serial Connector - A 9-pin D-sub connector providing an RS-232 serial
connection. Typically used for connecting Pan/Tilt/Zoom devices. See Unit Connectors, on
page 47 for more information.
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AXIS 240Q - Using the video server
Using the video server
The AXIS 240Q can be used with most standard operating systems and web browsers. The
recommended browser is Internet Explorer with Windows, and Mozilla with other
operating systems. See also the Technical specifications, on page 67.
Note: For information on installing the video server, please refer to the Installation Guide.
Accessing the video server
1. Start your browser.
2. Enter the IP address or host name
of the AXIS 240Q in the
Location/Address field of your
browser.
3. Enter the user name and password set by the administrator.
4. The Live View page is displayed in your browser.
AXIS 240Q - Using the video server
Notes: Notes: •To view streaming video in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must set your web browser to
allow the AXIS Media Control (AMC) to be installed on your computer. AMC is required to use
audio in the AXIS 241SA, AXIS 241QA and AXIS 243SA. AMC also provides an MPEG-4 decoder
for viewing MPEG-4 video streams. This decoder is installed the first time an MPEG-4 video
stream is accessed. Please note that the product administrator may have disabled the installation of the decoder, as a license is required for each instance. See page 31 for more information.
•If your workstation restricts the use of additional software components, the AXIS 240Q can be
configured to use a Java applet for updating JPEG images. Please see the online help for more
information.
•When using a browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer with AMC, instead of a stop, a
snapshot and a full screen button, there is a stop and a play button in the bottom left corner of
the live view page. For a description of these buttons see The Live View page, below.
The Live View page
If the AXIS 240Q has been customized, the buttons and other items described below will be
displayed accordingly on the Live View page. The following provides an overview of each
button:
The Video Format drop-down list allows the video format on the Live
View page to be temporarily changed.
The Output buttons control
an output directly from the
Live View page. These
buttons are configured
under Setup > Live View
Config > Layout.
Pulse - click this button to activate the port
for a defined period of time, e.g. to switch on
a light for 20 seconds.
Active/Inactive - click these buttons to
manually start and stop a connected device,
e.g. switch a light on/off.
These buttons start/stop the Sequence Mode. This mode is created in Setup >
Live View Config > Sequence mode and automatically displays the view
from 2 or more video sources at set intervals.
From the Source list, select the desired video image(s). The list can
contain internal video sources, external video sources, or the Quad
Stream view. The Quad Stream option displays all four video images
in one stream.
The Action buttons trigger an event directly from the Live View page. These
buttons are configured under Setup > Live View Config > Layout. Click these
buttons to manually start and stop events.
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10 AXIS 240Q - Video Streams
Use the Snapshot button to capture a snapshot of the image currently being
displayed in the window. Right-click on the image to save it in on your
computer.
The AMC viewer toolbar (AXIS Media Control) is available in Microsoft Internet
Explorer only and displays the following buttons:
The Play/Stop buttons start and stop the live video stream.
The Snapshot button takes a snapshot of the currently displayed image. The
Snapshot function and the target directory for saving snapshots can be configured
from AMC (AXIS Media Control), which is available from the Windows Control
Panel (Internet Explorer only).
Click the View Full Screen button and the video image will fill the entire screen
area. No other windows will be visible. Press Esc (Escape) on your keyboard to
cancel full screen view.
Note that these AMC toolbar functions can also be accessed by right-clicking in the image.
For information on using Pan/Tilt/Zoom controls, please see page 27.
Video Streams
The Live View page in the AXIS 240Q provides access to Motion JPEG video streams, as
well as to single JPEG images. Other applications and clients can also access these video
streams/images directly, without going via the Live View page.
Motion JPEG
This format uses standard JPEG still images in the video stream. These images are then
displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated
motion.
The Motion JPEG stream provides excellent image quality and access to each and every
individual image contained in the stream. The level of image compression may need to be
increased if bandwidth consumption is a problem.
Note also that multiple clients accessing Motion JPEG streams can use different image
settings.
AXIS 240Q - Video Streams
The AXIS Media Control (AMC)
The recommended method of accessing live video (Motion JPEG) from the AXIS 240Q is to
use the AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Microsoft Internet Explorer in Windows. This
ActiveX component is automatically installed on first use, after which it can be configured
by opening the AMC Control Panel applet from the Windows Control Panel. Alternatively,
right-click the video image in Internet Explorer.
Other methods of accessing the video stream
Video and images from the AXIS 240Q can also be accessed in the following ways:
• If supported by the client, the AXIS 240Q can use Motion JPEG server push to display
video. This option maintains an open HTTP connection to the browser and sends data as
and when required, for as long as required.
• As single JPEG images in a browser. Enter e.g. the path:
http://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?resolution=CIF
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12 AXIS 240Q - Configuring the video server
Configuring the video server
This section describes how to configure the AXIS 240Q and is intended for administrators,
who have unrestricted access to all the Setup tools
The AXIS 240Q is configured from the Setup link, in a standard browser For more
information on supported browsers, see the Technical specifications, on page 67.
Accessing the Setup tools
Follow the instructions below to access the Setup Tools from a browser.
1. Start the browser and enter the IP address or host name of the AXIS 240Q in the
location/address field.
2. The Live View page is now displayed. Click Setup to display the Setup tools.
Setup tools
AXIS 240Q - Video & Image Settings
Video & Image Settings
The following descriptions show examples of the available features in the AXIS 240Q. For
details about each setting, please refer to the online help available from each page.
to access the online help.
Click
Image Settings
Image Appearance
Modify the Image Appearance to optimize the video images according to your
requirements.
All configuration of images and overlays will affect the performance of the video server,
depending on the usage and the available bandwidth.
• High resolution generates larger files
• Lower compression improves image quality, but generates larger files
• Black & White uses less bandwidth than Color
• Rotating the image 90 or 270 degrees will lower the maximum frame rate
See also the specifications for frame rates and bandwidth on page 71.
13
14 AXIS 240Q - Video & Image Settings
Text Overlay Settings
Include date, time and/or text of your choice to be viewed on the image. The color of the
text may be set to white or black, while background color may be set to white, black,
transparent or semitransparent. The position of the text is set either to the top or the
bottom of the image.
Video stream
The Maximum video stream time can be set as Unlimited, or set a maximum stream time
per session in seconds, minutes or hours. When the set time has expired, a new stream on
the Live View page can be started by refreshing the page in the web browser. Note that the
maximum video stream time does not apply to clients connecting via multicast.
To avoid bandwidth problems on the network, the frame rate allowed to each viewer can
also be limited. Select either Unlimited or define a maximum frame rate per viewer.
Test
For a preview of the image and overlay settings before saving, click Test. When you are
satisfied with the settings, click Save.
Video Source Settings
Enter a descriptive name for the Video source.
Black borders surrounding the image can be eliminated by adjusting the offset position.
See the online help for more information.
AXIS 240Q - Video & Image Settings
Overlay/Mask settings
Overlay/Mask type
Text
Overlay/Mask type allows you to
overlay
place an overlay, or up to three priImage
vacy masks over the video image:
Overlay
• Upload and place an
image as an overlay usually used to provide
extra information in the
video image.
• Place up to 3 configurable
privacy masks to conceal
different areas of the
video image.
Selecting the overlay/mask type from the menu will display further settings available for
the selected type. See the online help for further information.
Note: A privacy mask cannot be bypassed, but an overlay image can be bypassed with the help of the AXIS VAPIX
API.
Upload and use an overlay image
1. Select Uploaded image as overlay in the drop-down list for Overlay/Mask Type.
New options appear.
2. In the field Upload own image, click the Browse button and locate the image file
on your computer or server.
3. Click the Upload button and follow the on-screen instructions.
To use an already uploaded image:
1. Select an uploaded image from the Use image drop-down list.
2. Place the image at the required location by entering the x and y coordinates.
3. Click Save.
15
16 AXIS 240Q - Video & Image Settings
Overlay image requirements:
Image Formats
Image Size
•
Windows 24-bit BMP (full color)
•
Windows 4-bit BMP (16 colors)
The height and width of the overlay image in
pixels must be exactly divisible by 4.
Overlay image limitations:
• The maximum overlay image size supported by the AXIS 240Q is the same as the maximum image resolution. See Technical Specifications, on page 54.
• When a text overlay is also used, this reduces the amount of space available to the
overlay image. To keep the text readable at lower resolutions, the text overlay occupies
proportionally more of the image at lower resolutions.
• If the overlay is initially positioned so that part of it is outside the video image, it will
be relocated so that it appears over the video image, i.e. it is always the entire image
that is displayed.
Please see the online help
for more information.
AXIS 240Q - Video & Image Settings
Use a Privacy Mask
To use privacy masks to hide different areas of the video image:
1. Select Configurable areas as privacy mask in the drop-down list for
Overlay/Mask Type. New options appear.
2. Enter the (x,y) coordinates of the top left hand corner of the mask, and the height
and width to define the masks’ placement and size.
3. Select the privacy masks’ color: black, grey, white, or red.
4. Click in the box beside Enable to enable one or more of the masks you have
defined and click on Save.
Please see the online help
for more information.
17
18 AXIS 240Q - Live View Config
Live View Config
Layout
These are the tools for deciding the
layout of the Live View page.
The layout can be set in 3 ways:
• Use Axis look - the layout is
unchanged.
• Use custom settings - modify the
default page with your own colors,
images etc. Click the Configure button and see the following page.
• Own Home Page - Upload and use
your own custom made page as the
default web page. Click the Configure button and see the following
page.
The other settings on this page concern
which other features to include, e.g.
buttons and links. See page 20 for more
information.
AXIS 240Q - Live View Config
Customizing the default page
The appearance of
the default AXIS
240Q Live View page
can be customized to
suit your own
requirements, or you
can upload and use
your own home
page.
To upload your own
files, click the
Upload/Remove
button and see the
description below.
Note that the setup address is http://<ip address>/operator/basic.shtml
Upload Own Web Files
Your own web files, background pictures, etc. must first be uploaded to the AXIS 240Q in
order to be available for selection in the Custom Settings setup dialog. Once uploaded, the
files are shown in the drop-down list.
1. Enter the path to the file, e.g. a file located on your workstation or click the
Browse button.
2. Select the user level for the uploaded file. Setting the user access level means that
you have complete control over which pages can be viewed by which users.
3. When the path is shown correctly in the text field, click the Upload button.
Uploaded files are now shown in the list in the lower section of the page.
4. To use your uploaded file, click the radio button and select the file from the
drop-down list by Own.
To remove a file, check the box provided next to it and then click the Remove button.
To use an external file located somewhere other than in the AXIS 240Q, select this radio
button and enter the URL in the field marked External.
Own Home Page
To use a previously uploaded web page as the default page, check this box, select the page
from the drop-down list and click OK.
19
20 AXIS 240Q - Live View Config
User Defined Links
Enter a descriptive name and enter the URL in
the provided field. The link will appear on the
Live View page.
User defined CGI links can be used to issue
HTTP API requests, e.g. PTZ commands.
Example:
1. Check Show Custom Link 1
2. Enter a descriptive name, e.g. CAM1 Start
PTZ.
3. Enter the cgi link:
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/com/ptz.cgi?
camera=1&continuouspantiltmove=30,-30
4. Check Show Custom Link 2.
User Defined Links
5. Enter a descriptive name, e.g. CAM1 Stop
PTZ.
6. Enter the cgi link:
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/com/ptz.cgi?camera=1&continuouspantiltmove=0,0
7. These links will appear in the web interface and can be used to control the PTZ camera
For more information on the Axis HTTP API, see the Support / Developer pages on the
Axis Web site at http://www.axis.com. See also the section on PTZ, on page 27.
Action Buttons
These buttons can be used to manually trigger and stop an event from the Live View page.
See Event Servers, on page 22. The snapshot button allows you to take a snapshot of the
video stream and save it to a computer.
Output Buttons
These buttons are used to control the outputs on the AXIS 240Q and thus the equipment
connected to them, e.g. to switch a light on or off:
• The Pulse button activates the port for a defined period
• Active/Inactive displays 2 buttons, one for each action (on/off)
Default Viewer for Motion JPEG
Select the appropriate radio button to define the method for viewing moving video images,
depending on your browser and settings.
Please see the online help
for more information.
AXIS 240Q - Live View Config
Default Viewer
Select from the drop-down list the viewer you wish to use for your web browser. Please see
the online help for more information.
Viewer Settings
Show crosshair in PTZ joystick mode - This will enable the display of a crosshair in the
video image when the the PTZ mode is set to joystick.
Use PTZ joystick mode as default - Enabling this sets the PTZ mode to joystick. The mode
can be changed temporarily on the PTZ Control Panel, but will default to joystick if this is
selected.
HTML Examples
You can add live video from your AXIS 240Q to your own web site. The video server can
send Motion-JPEG images to up to 20 simultaneous connections, although an
administrator can restrict this to fewer.
Enter the Image Type, Image size and other settings to suit your web page and click
Update.
External Video
You can add links to other Axis network devices available over the network. These sources
can be displayed on the Live View page, just as if they were video sources connected
directly to the AXIS 240Q.
Click the Add button to open the External Video Source Setup dialog, which is used to
make all the necessary settings.
Example of a path to an external video source:
http://192.168.0.125/axis-cgi/mjpeg/video.cgi
Sequence Mode
The Live View page can be configured to rotate through
selected internal and/or external video sources, in order or
randomly. PTZ preset positions can also be included.
Select the desired video sources and enter the time in seconds to display each source (up to
59 minutes). Click Save.
The Sequence buttons will appear on the Live View page to allow the viewer to start and
stop the sequence mode.
To show the selected video sources in random order, check the box provided.
21
22 AXIS 240Q - Event Configuration
Event Configuration
This section describes how to configure the AXIS 240Q for alarm handling. Various actions
can be configured to run when certain types of events occur.
Event type
A set of parameters describing how and when the video server is to perform certain actions
Triggered Event (see page
23)
- the circumstances that start an event
e.g. at a signal from an external device, such as a door
switch or a motion sensor
Scheduled Event (see page
24)
- the circumstances that start an event
e.g. at a pre-programmed time
Action
- what occurs when the event runs
e.g. video images uploaded to an FTP server, email notification sent, etc.
Event Servers
Event Servers are used for e.g. receiving uploaded image files and/or notification
messages. To set up Event server for your AXIS 240Q, go to Setup > Event Configuration
> Event Servers and enter the required information according to the selected server type.
Server type
Purpose
Information required
FTP Server
• receives uploaded images
•
•
•
•
•
Descriptive name of your choice
User Name and Password (to FTP server)
Upload path, e.g. images/
Port number
Use passive mode if there is a firewall between the video server
and FTP server
HTTP Server
• receives notification messages
• receives uploaded images
•
•
•
•
•
Descriptive name of your choice
URL (address)
User Name and Password (to HTTP server)
Proxy address/Proxy port (if required)
Proxy User Name and Password (if required)
TCP Server
• receives notification messages
• Descriptive name of your choice
• User Name and Password (for TCP server)
• Port number
For details on each setting, please refer to the online help
page.
available from each web
Note: Pre-trigger and Post-trigger buffers will be lost if the connection to the event server fails.
When the setup is complete, the connection can be tested by clicking the Test button (the
connection test takes approximately 10 seconds).
AXIS 240Q - Event Configuration
Event Types
An Event Type is a set of
parameters describing how
and when the video server
is to perform certain
actions.
Example: If somebody walks past
the connected camera, and an event
has been configured to act on this,
the video server can e.g. record and
send video images to an FTP server, or send a notification email to a pre-configured email address with a pre-configured message. Video images can be sent as an attachment with the email.
Triggered Event
A triggered event is activated by e.g:
•
•
•
•
•
a push button connected to an input port on the video server
detected movement in a configured motion detection window
a lost signal from a video source
a manually activated action e.g. from an action button in the web interface
on restart (reboot) after e.g. power loss
How to set up a triggered event
This example describes how to set the video server to upload images when the main door is
opened:
1. Click Add triggered on the Event types page.
2. Enter a descriptive name for the event, e.g. Main door.
3. Set the priority - High, Normal or Low (see online help files).
4. Select which Video Source the event is to act on, e.g. Video 1 on Main door.
5. Set the Respond to Trigger... parameters when the event is to be active,
e.g. only after office hours
6. Select the trigger alternative from the Triggered by... drop-down list,
e.g. an Input port with a connected sensor if the door is opened.
7. Set the When Triggered... parameters, i.e. set what the video server should do if
the main door is opened, e.g. upload images to an FTP server.
8. Click OK to save the event in the Event Types list.
Please see the online help
for descriptions of each available option.
23
24 AXIS 240Q - Event Configuration
Pre-trigger and Post-trigger buffers
This function is very useful when checking to see what happened immediately before and
after a trigger, e.g. 2 minutes before and after a door was opened. Check the Upload
images checkbox under Event Types > Add Triggered... > Triggered by... to expand the
web page with the available options.
Up to 3 MB of memory (per video source) is available for the pre-/post-trigger buffer. The
maximum length of the video actually saved in the buffer depends on the selected image
size and frame rate.
Include pre-trigger buffer - images stored internally in the server from the time
immediately preceding the trigger. Check the box to enable the pre-trigger buffer, enter the
desired length of time and specify the required image frequency.
Include post-trigger buffer - contains images from the time immediately after the trigger.
Configure as for pre-trigger.
Note: If the pre- or post-buffer is too large for the internal memory in the AXIS 240Q, the frame rate will be
reduced and individual images may be missing. If this occurs, an entry will be created in the unit's log file.
Continue image upload (unbuffered) - enable the upload of images for a fixed length of
time. Specify the length of time for the uploaded recording, in seconds, minutes or hours,
or for as long as the trigger is active. Finally, set the desired image frequency to the
maximum (the maximum available) or to a specified frame rate. The frame rate will be the
best possible, but might not be as high as specified, especially if uploading via a slow
connection.
Scheduled Event
A Scheduled event can be activated at pre-set times, in a repeating pattern on selected
weekdays.
How to set up a scheduled event
This example describes how to set the video server to send an email notification with saved
images from a set time:
1. Click Add scheduled on the Event types page.
2. Enter a descriptive name for the event, e.g. Scheduled email.
3. Set the priority (High, Normal or Low).
4. Select the video source i.e. the source the event should act on,
e.g. Video 2 in Storage room.
5. Set the Activation Time parameters (24h clock) when the event should be active,
e.g. start on Sundays at 13.00 with a duration of 12 hours.
6. Set the When Activated... parameters, i.e. specify what the video server should do
at the specified time, e.g. send uploaded images to an email address.
AXIS 240Q - Event Configuration
7. Click OK to save the Event in the Event Types list.
Please see the online help
for descriptions of each available option.
Motion Detection
In the Motion Detection menu, you can configure the video source(s) for motion detection.
The motion detection feature is used to generate an alarm whenever movement occurs (or
stops) in the image. Motion detection is configured in Include/Exclude windows, of which
up to 40 (10 per video source) can be configured.
• Include windows target specific areas within the whole image
• Exclude windows are areas to be ignored within the Include window
Once configured, the motion detection windows will appear in a list when motion
detection is selected to trigger an event. See How to set up a triggered event above.
Note: Using the motion detection feature may decrease overall performance in the video server.
How to configure Motion Detection
This example describes how to configure Video 1 for motion detection:
1. Click Motion Detection in the Event Configuration menu.
2. Select video source 1 from the menu.
3. Click the Configure Included Windows radio button.
4. Click New.
5. Enter a descriptive name of your choice under Windows name.
25
26 AXIS 240Q - Event Configuration
6. Adjust the size (drag the bottom right-hand corner) and position (click on the text
at the top and drag to the desired position).
7. Adjust the Object size, History and Sensitivity profile sliders (see table below for
details). Any detected motion within an active window is then indicated by red
peaks in the Activity window (the active window has a red frame).
8. Click Save.
If there are parts of the Include window that you wish to exclude, click the
Configure Excluded Windows radio button and repeat steps 1-8 above.
Please use the online help
for descriptions of each available option.
Parameter
Size
History
Sensitivity
High
Only very large objects
trigger motion detection
An object that appears in the region will
trigger the motion detection for a long
period
Ordinary colored objects against ordinary
backgrounds will trigger the motion
detection
Low
Even very small objects
trigger motion detection
An object that appears in the region will
trigger motion detection for only a very
short period
Only very bright objects against a dark
background will trigger motion detection
Medium to High
Medium to High
Default values Low
Examples:
•
•
•
Avoid triggering on small objects in the image by selecting a high size level.
To trigger motion detection as long as there is activity in the area, select a high history level.
To only detect flashing light, low sensitivity can be selected. In other cases, a high sensitivity level is
recommended.
Port Status
Under Event Configuration > Port Status, there is a list that shows the status for the
connected inputs and outputs of the AXIS 240Q. This is for the benefit of an operator, who
cannot access the System Options section.
Example: If the Normal state for a push button connected to an input is set to Open circuit, as long as the button is
not pushed, the state is inactive. If the button is pushed, the state of the input changes to active.
AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
Pan Tilt Zoom
Installing PTZ Devices
The AXIS 240Q supports several PTZ devices. Please see www.axis.com for a complete list
of supported devices, and to obtain the correct driver. Follow the instructions below to
install a PTZ device:
1. Using an appropriate cable, connect the device to your selected port (RS-232 or
RS-485). These ports are available via the D-Sub connector and the I/O terminal
connector, respectively. See page 49 for more information.
2. In the setup tools, go to Setup > System Options > Ports & Devices and then
select either port RS-232 or RS-485 to configure. See the figure below.
3. Select Pan Tilt Zoom from the Usage drop-down list.
4. Click Upload to install a PTZ driver.
(PTZ drivers are available from the Axis Web site at www.axis.com)
5. Click Port Options... to modify the port settings. The default values correspond to
the values specified by the PTZ driver.
6. From System Options > Ports & Devices, select the port configured for PTZ and
then select the video source to use with the device.
7. If required, click the Advanced Options button to make further settings and see
the online help.
27
28 AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
Note: Advanced users and application developers can also use the Axis Application Programming Interface and
HTTP specification for generic control of PTZ devices using CGI commands or a TCP/IP client. Please refer to
the Axis Website at www.axis.com for further information.
PTZ Configuration
Once PTZ has been installed for the AXIS 240Q, PTZ Configuration now appears in the
menu to the left along with the following submenus.
Preset Positions
A preset position is a pre-defined camera view than can be used to quickly move the
camera to a specific location.
From Preset Position Setup, use the Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) controls to steer the camera
to the required position. When satisfied with the camera's position, enter a descriptive
name. The camera position, iris and focus settings are then saved as a preset position.
The position can be assumed at any time, by selecting the preset's name from the Preset
positions drop-down list. Preset positions can be selected in Live View, from events and in
Sequence mode.
One position can be set as the Home position, which is readily accessible by clicking in the
box beside Use current position as Home. The position's name will then have (H) added,
e.g. Office Entrance (H).
AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
PTZ Controls
If the AXIS 240Q has been appropriately configured, the Live View page will display the
controls available for the installed Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) device. The administrator can
enable/disable the controls for specified users.
Preset positions
Video sources
Tilt bar (relative)
The exact controls shown depends on the make and model of PTZ device. There may be
e.g. Focus and Iris bars available as well, but the most common controls are;
• the Pan bar - moves the camera to the right and left
• the Tilt bar - tips the camera up and down
• the Zoom bar - zooms the view in and out. Note that this is only available if the
camera is fitted with a zoom lens.
• the Iris bar - adjusts the brightness of the image
Clicking on the bars themselves or on the arrows at the end of the bars will move the
camera to a new position. The type of movement and the location of this new position
depends on the type of PTZ driver.
When controlling the camera using a relative PTZ driver (see the bars in the illustration
above) the new position will be relative to the previous position, e.g. left of, below, above,
etc. Clicking the bar further from the center results in a larger movement.
29
30 AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
In contrast, when using an absolute driver, each
position on the bar (see right) represents a defined
position in the device’s range of movement, with the center of the bar representing the
point midway between the two extremes of movement.
Clicking a position directly on the bar moves the camera directly to the new position in
one smooth movement. Clicking on the arrows at the ends of a bar causes a stepped,
incremental change.
Using CGI links to control PTZ devices
User-defined CGI links on the Live View page can be used to issue HTTP API requests, e.g.
PTZ commands. These links are configured in the Live View Layout settings, see page 8.
PTZ Control Modes
The PTZ device can also be controlled using click-in-image movement, which has two
different types of navigation; Center and Joystick.
Center mode means that when clicking in the image, the camera view will center on the
absolute position that was clicked.
Joystick mode moves the camera in the direction of the mouse pointer. By clicking and
holding the mouse button down in the image, the PTZ device moves the camera in that
direction, relative to the center of the image. The further from the center the image is
clicked, the greater the movement. The camera stops moving when the button is released.
Note: There is also joystick support in AXIS Media Control (AMC).
Control Panel
The focus and iris (image brightness) can be adjusted manually by using the control bars,
or they can be set for automatic adjustment, by clicking the Auto iris and Auto focus
buttons.
To access the Auto iris and Auto focus buttons, click on the Control
panel button. The menu to the right will then appear in the upper left
hand corner of the screen.
There are also driver specific shortcuts that can appear in the Control
Panel. In the screen to the right, a driver has been installed that
brings up the Wiper shortcut button, which allows the user to
configure and use a windshield wiping action with the AXIS 240Q.
AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
Preset Positions
Also available with many PTZ devices are Preset positions. These presets are selected from
the drop-down Source list on the Live View page and will move and/or zoom the camera
to a pre-defined position, i.e. to cover an area of particular interest. Events can also be
configured to go to preset positions when triggered. For information on setting up preset
positions, please see Preset Positions, on page 28 and the online help.
Guard Tour
A guard tour moves between chosen Preset Positions, one-by-one, in a pre-determined
order or randomly, and for configurable time periods. Unlike the Sequence Mode, which is
a viewing application under Live View Config (see Live View Config, on page 18), the
guard tour sequence will keep running after the user has logged off or closed the Web
browser.
Advanced
Device Settings - The device settings window is for driver specific settings, so the
appearance of this window can vary depending on the driver installed. Options that can be
configured include: Driver Specific Settings for Video Source 1, Mechanical Limits for
Moving Video Source 1, Light Control for Video Source 1, and Extended Driver Specific
Settings for Video Source 1.
Ctrl Panel - The Panel View Settings window contains tools for creating and saving short
command buttons that are located under the Control panel. These buttons provide direct
access to various built-in auxiliary commands provided by the PTZ driver and are
displayed in the PTZ Panel.
Limits - Define the pan, tilt, zoom and focus limits for the AXIS 240Q. Movements to the
left and right, up and down can be restricted to narrow the area under surveillance. The
near focus limit can be set to avoid focusing on objects too close to the camera.
31
32 AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
OSD Menu - If the PTZ unit supports an internal configuration menu, this can be accessed
using the On-Screen Display (OSD). Configure the analog camera by opening and
navigating through its internal menu in this display.
PTZ Control Queue
Use the PTZ Control Queue window to enable and disable PTZ queueing. This window
allows you to set up a queue for viewers wanting to access the AXIS 240Q, and limits the
number of viewers and the length of time each viewer can access and control PTZ. For
more information on how to set up the control queue, please see the online help.
Note also that a viewer who belongs to a group (see Security - Users, on page 34) that has
a higher PTZ priority can go in front of other users in the queue and take control of the
AXIS 240Q.
AXIS 240Q - Pan Tilt Zoom
The order of priority for taking control of the queue is listed below:
1. Administrators - An administrator may take the PTZ control regardless of who is
currently first in queue. The administrator will be removed from queue 60
seconds after the their last PTZ control command.
2. Event - You can set up the AXIS 240Q to take control of the queue and move to a
specific position for 20 seconds when triggered by an alarm. The event will
immediately be place first in queue except when an administrator is in control.
For more information see Triggered Event, on page 23.
3. Operator - Same as administrator with lower priority.
4. Guard Tour - Guard tour has control of PTZ for an indefinite period of time. It
may be overridden by, Operator, Event or administrator. Guard Tour will resume
when higher priority groups leaves the queue. For more information see Guard
Tour, on page 31.
5. Viewer - Multiple viewers will need to wait for their turn. The viewer has 60
seconds to control PTZ until control is passed to the next viewer in queue.
Note: In order to be able to identify different users in the viewer group, cookies need to be enabled on the client.
33
34 AXIS 240Q - System Options
System Options
Security - Users
User access control is enabled by default, when the administrator sets the root password on
first access. New users are authorized with user names and passwords, or the administrator
can choose to allow anonymous viewer login to the Live View page, as described below:
Users - the user list displays the authorized users and access levels:
Viewer
Provides the lowest level of access, which only allows the user access to the Live View page
Operator
An Operator can view the Live View page, create and modify event types and adjust certain other
settings. The Operator does not have access to the Systems Options configuration pages.
Administrator
An administrator has unrestricted access to the Setup Tools and can determine the registration of
all other users.
User Settings - check the corresponding checkboxes to enable:
• Anonymous viewer login - allows any viewer direct access to the Live View page.
• Anonymous PTZ control login - allows any viewer access to the Pan Tilt Zoom controllers on the Live View page (if Pan/Tilt/Zoom is available).
IP address filtering
Checking the Enable IP address filtering box enables the IP address filtering function. Up
to 256 IP address entries may be specified (a single entry can contain multiple IP
addresses). Click the Add button to add new filtered addresses.
When the IP address filter is enabled, addresses added to the list are set as allowed or
denied addresses. All other IP addresses not in this list will then be allowed or denied
access accordingly, i.e. if the addresses in the list are allowed, then all others are denied
access, and vice versa. See also the online help for more information.
Note that users from IP addresses that will be allowed must also be registered with the
appropriate access rights (User, Operator or Administrator). This is done from Setup >
System Options > Security > Users.
Referrals - to prevent unauthorized sources from including the video stream from the
AXIS 240Q into external Web pages, check the Referrals box and enter the IP address or
Host name of the computer that hosts the Web pages with the included video stream.
Multiple IP addresses/host names can be defined and are separated by semicolons(;)
AXIS 240Q - System Options
Notes:
•If the referrals feature is enabled and you wish to also allow normal access to the Live View
page, the product's own IP address or host name must be added to the list of allowed referrers.
•Restricting referrers has no effect on an MPEG-4 video stream. To restrict an MPEG-4 stream, IP
address filtering must be enabled.
•Restricting referrers is of greatest value when not using IP address filtering. If IP address filtering is used, then the allowed referrers are automatically restricted to those allowed IP
addresses.
HTTPS
For greater security, the AXIS 240Q can be configured to use HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer
Protocol over SSL (Secure Socket Layer)). That is, all communication that would otherwise
go via HTTP instead goes via an encrypted HTTPS connection.
Certificate - to use HTTPS for communication with the AXIS 240Q, a Certificate must be
created using one of these methods:
• A self-signed certificate can be created in the video server, but this does not guarantee
the same level of security as an official certificate.
• An official certificate issued by a CA (Certificate Authority). A CA issues and manages
security credentials and public keys for message encryption.
1. Click either Create self-signed certificate or Create Certificate Request and enter
the required information in the provided fields
2. Click OK.
3. Create self-signed certificate generates and installs a certificate which will be
displayed under Installed Certificate.
Create Certificate Request generates a PEM formatted request which you copy
and send to a CA for signing. When the signed certificate is returned, click Install
signed certificate... to install the certificate in the AXIS 240Q.
4. Set the HTTPS Connection Policy for the administrator, Operator and Viewer to
enable HTTPS connection (set to HTTP by default)
Please refer to the home page of your preferred CA for information on where to send the
request etc. For more information, please see the online help
802.1x - Network Admission Control
IEEE 802.1x is an IEEE standard for port-based Network Admission Control. It provides
authentication to devices attached to a network port (wired or wireless), establishing a
point-to-point connection, or, if authentication fails, preventing access on that port.
802.1x is based on EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol).
In a 802.1x enabled network switch, clients equipped with the correct software can be
authenticated and allowed or denied network access at the Ethernet level.
35
36 AXIS 240Q - System Options
Clients and servers in an 802.1x network may need to authenticate each other by some
means. In the Axis implementation this is done with the help of digital certificates
provided by a Certification Authority. These are then validated by a third-party entity,
such as a RADIUS server, examples of which are Free Radius and Microsoft Internet
Authentication Service.
To perform the authentication, the RADIUS server uses various EAP methods/protocols, of
which there are many. The one used in the Axis implementation is EAP-TLS
(EAP-Transport Layer Security).
The AXIS network video device presents its certificate to the network switch, which in turn
forwards this to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server validates or rejects the certificate
and responds to the switch, and sends its own certificate to the client for validation. The
switch then allows or denies network access accordingly, on a preconfigured port.
AXIS 240Q - System Options
The authentication process
Axis video device
3
Certificate
Q: Certificate OK?
A: OK
2
Network
switch
Q: Certificate OK?
A: OK
4
RADIUS
server
1
Certificate
Authority (CA)
Certificate
Protected network
1. A CA server provides the required signed certificates.
2. The Axis video device requests access to the protected network at the network switch.
The switch forwards the video device’s CA certificate to the RADIUS server, which then
replies to the switch.
3. The switch forwards the RADIUS server’s CA certificate to the video device, which
also replies to the switch.
4. The switch keeps track of all responses to the validation requests. If all certificates are
validated, the Axis video device is allowed access to the protected network via a
preconfigured port.
RADIUS
RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) is an AAA (Authentication,
Authorization and Accounting) protocol for applications such as network access or IP
mobility. It is intended to work in both local and roaming situations.
CA servers
In cryptography, a Certification Authority (CA) is an entity that provides signed digital
certificates for use by other parties, and thus acts a trusted third party.
There are many commercial CA’s that charge for their services. Institutions and
governments may have their own CA, and there are free CA’s available.
37
38 AXIS 240Q - System Options
Date & Time
Current Server Time - displays the current date and time (24h clock). The time can be
displayed in 12h clock format in overlay images.
New Server Time - Select your time zone from the drop-down list and check the daylight
saving time changes, if desired.
From the Time Mode section, select the preferred method to use for setting the time:
• Synchronize with computer time - sets the time from the clock on your computer.
• Synchronize with NTP Server - the video server will obtain the time from an NTP
server every 60 minutes. Specify the NTP server's IP address or host name.
Note: Note that if using a host name for the NTP server, a DNS server must be configured under TCP/IP settings.
See Network > Advanced TCP/IP Settings below.
• Set manually - this option allows you to manually set the time and date.
Date & Time Format Used in Images - specify the formats for the date and time (12h or
24h) displayed in the Live View video streams.
Use the predefined formats or use your own custom date and time formats. See File
Naming & Date/Time Formats in the online help
for information on how to create
your own file formats.
Network - Basic TCP/IP Settings
IP Address Configuration
Your Axis network camera supports both IP version 4 and IP version 6. Both versions may
be enabled simultaneously, and at least one version must always be enabled.
When using IPv4, the IP address can be set automatically via DHCP, or a static IP address
can be set manually.
If IPv6 is enabled, your camera will receive an IP address according to the configuration in
the network router.
There are also options for setting up notification of changes in the IP address, and for
using the AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service. For more information on setting the IP
address, please see the online help.
Notes:
•DHCP is a protocol for automatic IP address assignment on a network. IP address assignment via
DHCP may lead to the situation where the IP address changes and you lose contact. Configure
the options for notification of IP address change (under Services) to receive notification from
the video server when the IP address changes.
•Alternatively, if your DHCP server can update a DNS server, you can access the AXIS 240Q by
host name which is always the same, regardless of the IP address.
AXIS 240Q - System Options
Services
Enable ARP/Ping setting of IP address - The IP address can be set using the ARP/Ping
method, which associates the unit's MAC address with an IP address. Check this box to
enable the service. Leave disabled to prevent unintentional resetting of the IP address.
Notes: • The ARP/Ping service is automatically disabled 2 minutes after the unit is started, or as soon as an IP address
is set.
• Pinging the unit will still be possible when this service is disabled.
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service - If the AXIS 240Q has been registered with the Axis
Internet Dynamic DNS service and the IP address for the product changes, the service is
updated to reflect the change. Check the box to enable/disable automatic updates.
The domain name currently registered at the Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service for your
product can at any time be removed. To do this click Settings... and follow the
instructions. For more information, please refer to the online help
39
40 AXIS 240Q - System Options
Network - Advanced TCP/IP Settings
DNS Configuration
DNS (Domain Name Service) provides the translation of host names to IP addresses on
your network.
Obtain DNS server address via DHCP - automatically use the DNS server settings provided
by the DHCP server. Click the View button to see the current settings.
Use the following DNS server address - enter the desired DNS server by specifying the
following:
Domain name - enter the domain(s) to search for the host name used by the AXIS 240Q.
Multiple domains can be separated by semicolons (;). The host name is always the first part
of a Fully Qualified Domain Name, e.g. myserver is the host name in the Fully Qualified
Domain Name myserver.mycompany.com where mycompany.com is the Domain name.
DNS servers - enter the IP addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.
NTP
Obtain NTP server address via DHCP - use a DHCP server to automatically find an NTP
server to synchronize clock of the AXIS 240Q with the other devices on the network
Use the following NTP server address - use the host name or IP address of a specific NTP
server for time synchronization.
Host Name Configuration
The AXIS 240Q can be accessed using a host name, instead of an IP address. The host
name is usually the same as the assigned DNS Name.
For more information, please see the online help
Link-Local Address
This is enabled by default and assigns the AXIS 240Q an additional IP address for use with
UPnP™. The AXIS 240Q can have both a Link-Local IP and a static/DHCP-supplied IP
address at the same time - these will not affect each other.
HTTP
The default HTTP port number (80) can be changed to any port within the range
1024-65535. This is useful for e.g. simple port mapping.
HTTPS
The default HTTP port number (443) can be changed to any port within the range
1024-65535. This is useful for e.g. simple port mapping.
AXIS 240Q - System Options
NAT traversal
Use NAT traversal when your video server is located on an intranet and you want to make
it available from the other side of a NAT router.
FTP
The FTP server running in the AXIS 240Q enables the upload of e.g. new firmware, user
applications, etc. Check the box to enable the service.
RTSP
The RTSP protocol allows a connecting client to start an MPEG-4 stream. Check the box to
enable the RTSP server and enter the RTSP port number to use. The default setting is 554,
and the allowed port range is 1024-65535. Note that MPEG-4 streams will not be available
if this is not enabled.
Network Traffic
The default setting is Auto-negotiate which means that the correct speed is automatically
selected. If necessary, you can set the connection speed by selecting it from the drop-down
list.
Maximum bandwidth - Specify, in Mbit/s or kbit/s, the maximum bandwidth the AXIS
240Q is allowed to use on your network. This is a useful function when connecting the
video server to busy or heavily loaded networks. The default setting is Unlimited.
For more information, please see the online help
SOCKS
SOCKS is a networking proxy protocol. The AXIS 240Q can be configured to use a SOCKS
server to reach networks on the other side of a firewall/proxy server. This functionality is
useful if the video server is located on a local network behind a firewall, but notifications,
uploads, alarms, etc., need to be sent to a destination outside the local network (e.g. to the
Internet).
QoS (Quality of service)
Quality of Service (QoS) provides the means to guarantee a certain level of a specified
resource to selected traffic on a network. Quality can be defined as e.g. a maintained level
of bandwidth, low latency, no packet losses, etc. The main benefits of a QoS-aware
network can be summarized as:
• The ability to prioritize traffic and thus allow critical flows to be served before
flows with lesser priority.
• Greater reliability in the network, thanks to the control of the amount of bandwidth an application may use, and thus control over bandwidth races between
applications.
41
42 AXIS 240Q - System Options
The QoS in Axis network video products marks the data packets for various types of
network traffic originating from the product. This makes it possible for network routers
and switches to e.g. reserve a fixed amount of bandwidth for these types of traffic. The
following types of traffic are marked:
•
•
•
•
live video
live audio
event/alarm traffic
management network traffic.
QoS Settings
For each type of network traffic supported by your Axis network video product, enter a
DSCP (Differentiated Services Codepoint) value. This value is used to mark the traffic’s IP
header. When the marked traffic reaches a network router or switch, the DSCP value in the
IP header tells the router or switch which type of treatment to apply to this type of traffic,
for example, how much bandwidth to reserve for it.
Note that DSCP values can be entered in decimal or hex form, but saved values are always
shown in decimal.
For more infomation on Quality of Service, please see the Axis support web at
www.axis.com/techsup
SMTP (email)
Enter the host names or addresses for your primary and secondary mail servers in the
fields provided, to enable event and error email messages from the video server to
predefined addresses, via SMTP. If the mail server requires SMTP authentication, check the
box for Use authentication to log in to this server and enter the user name and password
used for logging in. Several different methods of authentication are available. See the
online help for more information.
SNMP
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows the remote management of
network devices. Select the version of SNMP to use, depending on the level of security
required. Select the version of SNMP to use, by checking the appropriate box. The three
levels of security are:
• SNMP V1 - includes no security
• SNMP V2c - uses very simple security, e.g. community name as password
• SNMP V3 - provides encryption and secure passwords. Use with HTTPS.
If using V1 and V2c, enter the community name for read-only access to all supported
SNMP objects (except the root password and other objects that require write access).
Default value = public. You can also specify the community name for read/write access to
all supported SNMP objects (except read-only objects). Default value = pass.
AXIS 240Q - System Options
If using HTTPS enter the password if it has not already been set. To set the password again,
the AXIS 240Q must be reset to the factory default settings.
Network - UPnP™
The video server includes support for UPnP™ in Windows ME and Windows XP. UPnP™ is
enabled by default.
Note: UPnP™ must be installed on your workstation. To do this, open the Control Panel from the Start Menu and
select Add/Remove Programs. Select Add/Remove Windows Components and open the Networking Services section. Click Details and then select UPnP™ as the service to add.
Bonjour
Your Axis network camera includes support for Bonjour. When enabled, the camera is
automatically detected by operating systems and clients that support this protocol.
Ports & Devices
I/O Ports - the pinout, interface support and the control and monitoring functions
provided by this connector are described in Unit Connectors, on page 47.
RS232 - The COM port RS-232 on the AXIS 240Q supports several operational modes
listed on this page. For more information, please see COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485, on
page 49.
RS485 - The COM ports on the AXIS 240Q supports several operational modes listed on
this page. For more information, please see COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485, on page 49.
Maintenance
• Restart - The unit is restarted without changing any of the settings. Use this method if
the unit is not behaving as expected.
• Restore - The unit is restarted and most current settings are reset to factory default values. The settings that will not be reset are:
• the boot protocol (DHCP or static)
• the static IP address
• the default router
• the subnet mask
• the system time
• Default - The default button should be used with caution. Pressing this will return all of
the video server's settings (including the IP address) to the factory default values.
Upgrade Server - See Upgrading the Firmware, on page 50.
43
44 AXIS 240Q - System Options
Backup - To take a backup of all of the parameters, and any user-defined scripts, click this
button. If necessary, it is then possible to return to a previous configuration if settings are
changed and there is unexpected behavior.
Restore - click the Browse button to locate the saved backup file (see above) and then click
the Restore button. The settings will be restored to the previous configuration.
Note: Backup and Restore can only be used on the same unit running the same firmware. This feature is not
intended for multi-configurations or for firmware upgrades.
Support
The support overview page provides valuable information on troubleshooting and contact
information, should you require technical assistance.
The System Overview provides a summary of the status of the video server.
Logs & Reports - when contacting Axis support, please be sure to provide a valid Server
Report with your query.
Information - The Log report and the Parameter List also provide valuable information
for troubleshooting and when contacting Axis support service.
Configuration:
Log Level for Log Files - from the drop-down list, select the level of information to be
added to the Log file.
Log Level for Email - from the drop-down list, select the level of information to send as
email and enter the destination email address.
AXIS 240Q - System Options
Advanced
Scripting is an advanced function that provides the possibility to customize and use
scripts. This function is a very powerful tool.
Caution!
Improper use may cause unexpected behavior or even cause loss of contact with the
unit. If a script does cause problems, reset the unit to its factory default settings. A
backup file may be of use to return the unit to its latest configuration).
Axis strongly recommends that you do not use this function unless you fully
understand the consequences. Note that Axis support does not provide assistance for
problems with customized scripts.
For more information, please visit the Developer pages at www.axis.com/developer
Plain Config - this function is for the advanced user with experience of Axis video
server configuration. All parameters can be set and modified from this page. Help is
available from the standard help pages.
45
46 AXIS 240Q - System Options
Resetting to the Factory Default Settings
To reset the AXIS 240Q to the original default settings, go to the System Options >
Maintenance web page (as described in Maintenance, on page 43), or use the control
button on the front panel, as described below:
Using the Control Button
1. Switch off the AXIS 240Q by
disconnecting power.
2. Press and hold the Control
button while you reconnect
power.
3. Keep the Control button
pressed until the Status
Indicator displays yellow (this
may take up to 15 seconds).
Status Indicator
Control Button
4. Release the Control button.
5. When the Status Indicator changes to Green (may take up to 1 minute), the
process is complete and the AXIS 240Q has been reset.
6. Re-install the AXIS 240Q, as described in the Installation Guide.
AXIS 240Q - Unit Connectors
Unit Connectors
The following connectors are described in this section:
•
•
•
The D-Sub Connector, on page 47
The I/O Terminal Connector, on page 48
COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485, on page 49
The D-Sub Connector
The AXIS 240Q provides one 9-pin D-sub connector, providing the physical interface for
an RS-232 port, used for connecting accessory equipment, such as PTZ devices for the
remote control of connected video cameras.
Pin assignment table and pinout of the RS-232 connector:
Pin
Function
1
CD
2
- RXD
3
- TXD
4
DTR
5
GND
6
DSR
7
RTS
8
CTS
9
RI
1
2
6
3
7
4
8
5
9
47
48 AXIS 240Q - Unit Connectors
The I/O Terminal Connector
This section describes the pinout and interface support provided by the 12-pin I/O terminal
connector, which includes:
•
•
•
•
4 digital transistor outputs
4 digital inputs
an RS-485 interface
auxiliary power and GND
The terminal connector is used in applications for e.g. motion detection, event triggering,
time lapse recording, alarm notification via email, image storage to FTP locations, etc.
• Inputs - e.g. a push button. If the button is pressed, the state changes, and the
input will be active (shown under Event Configuration > Port Status).
• Outputs - e.g. an alarm device that can be activated from Output buttons on the
Live View page or as an action to an Event Type. The output will show as active
(in Event Configuration > Port Status), if the device is activated.
Pin
Function
Description
1
Auxiliary DC Power Input
7-20 VDC/min 7W. Electrically connected in parallel with PS-k power
connector, provides an auxiliary connector for mains power to the unit.
If the product is powered via this pin, use a fuse (Fuse rating: 1A Slow).
This pin can also be used to power auxiliary equipment, max 100mA
2
GND
3
Digital Input 1
4
Digital Input 2
5
Digital Input 3
6
Digital Input 4
7
Transistor Output
8
Transistor Output
9
Transistor Output
10
Transistor Output
11
RS-485 - A (non-inverting)
12
RS-485 - B (inverting)
Connect to GND to activate or leave floating (or unconnected) to
deactivate.
With a maximum load of 100mA and maximum voltage of 24V DC, this
output has an open-collector NPN transistor with the emitter
connected to pin 2 (GND). If it is to be used with an external relay, a
diode must be connected in parallel with the load for protection
against any voltage transients.
A half-duplex RS-485 interface for controlling auxiliary equipment,
e g. PTZ devices.
The AXIS 240Q includes one (green) 12-pin terminal block. Connect input/output devices
to this block:
1. Loosen the corresponding screw on top of the pin (see the table above to
determine which pin to use).
2. Push the cable into the connector and secure it by fastening the screw.
3. Once all devices are connected, connect the terminal block to the video server’s
terminal connector.
AXIS 240Q - Unit Connectors
Schematic Diagram - I/O Terminal Connector
Switch
Mode
Power
Supply
3.3V
AXIS 240Q
Video Server
+
o
PS-K 9V
o
z
1
o
GND 2 o
e.g. push button
z
3o
4o
5o
Relay
o
o
o
Device
oo
6o
o
7
RS-485
A
B
z
8o
z
9o
z
10o
11o
12o
GND PIN 5 o
z
RS-232
D-SUB
z
COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485
The COM Ports RS-232 and RS-485 support several operational modes:
• Generic TCP/IP - enables the video server to receive status/data and send commands via TCP/IP
• Generic HTTP - enables the video server to receive status/data and send commands via HTTP
• Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) - for controlling a PTZ device. A PTZ device requires a driver
for its function. Please see page 27 for information on how to connect PTZ
devices. Drivers can be obtained from www.axis.com
49
50 AXIS 240Q - Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Checking the Firmware
Firmware is software that determines the functionality of the AXIS 240Q. One of your first
actions when troubleshooting a problem should be to check the currently installed version.
The latest version may contain a correction that fixes your particular problem. The current
firmware version in your AXIS 240Q can be seen under Setup > Basic Configuration.
Upgrading the Firmware
When you download firmware from the Axis Web site, your Axis product will receive the
latest available functionality. Always read the upgrade instructions and release notes
available with each new release, before updating the firmware.
New firmware can be downloaded to the AXIS 240Q over the network.
Note: Pre-configured and customized settings will be retained for use when the new firmware is running (provided the features are available in the new firmware) although this is not guaranteed by Axis Communications.
1. Save the firmware file to your computer. The latest version of the AXIS 240Q
firmware is available free of charge from the Axis Web site at
www.axis.com/techsup or from your local distributor.
2. Go to Setup > System Options > Maintenance in the video server’s Web pages.
3. In the Upgrade Server section and browse to the desired firmware file on your
computer. Click Upgrade.
Notes:
•Always read the upgrade instructions available with each new release, before updating the
firmware.
•After starting the process, you should always wait at least 20 minutes before restarting the AXIS
240Q, even if you suspect the procedure has failed.
•Your dealer reserves the right to charge for any repair attributable to faulty updating by the
user.
AXIS 240Q - Troubleshooting
Emergency Recovery Procedure
If power or the network connection to the AXIS 240Q is lost during the upgrade, the
process will fail and the unit will become unresponsive. A flashing red Status LED indicates
a failed upgrade. To recover the unit, follow the steps below. The serial number is found on
the underside label on the product casing.
1. Unix/Linux - From the command line, type the following:
arp -s <IP address of AXIS 240Q> <Serial number> temp
ping -s 408 <IP address of AXIS 240Q>
Windows - From a command/DOS prompt, type the following:
arp -s <IP address of AXIS 240Q> <Serial number>
ping -l 408 -t <IP address of AXIS 240Q>
2. If the unit does not reply within a few seconds, restart it and wait for a reply. Press
CTRL+C to stop Ping.
3. Open a browser and type in the AXIS 240Q’s IP address. In the page that appears, use
the Browse button to select the upgrade file to use, e.g. axis240q.bin. Then click the
Load button to restart the upgrade process.
4. After the upgrade has completed (1-10 minutes), the unit will automatically restart and
show a steady green on the Power and Status LED’s and flashing green or amber on the
Network LED.
5. Reinstall the AXIS 240Q. See the Installation Guide.
If the emergency recovery procedure does not get the AXIS 240Q up and running again,
please contact Axis support at www.axis.com/techsup/
Support
If you contact Axis support, please help us help you resolve your problems expediently by
providing a server report, log file and a brief description of the problem.
Server Report - go to Setup > System Options > Support Overview. The server report
contains important information about the server and its software, as well as a list of the
current parameters.
Log file - go to Setup > System Options > Logs & Reports. The Log file records events
within the unit since the last restart of the system and can prove a useful diagnostic tool
for troubleshooting.
51
52 AXIS 240Q - Troubleshooting
Symptoms, Possible Causes and Remedial ActionsI
Problems setting the IP address
Using ARP/Ping - the IP address Restart the server and try again. Ensure also the ping length is set to 408. See or ARP and Ping
must be set within two minutes in Windows on page 13, or ARP and Ping in UNIX/Linux on page 14.
after power has been applied to
the video server
The video server is located on a
different subnet.
If the IP address intended for the AXIS 240Q and the IP address of your computer are located
on different subnets, you will not be able to set the IP address. Contact your network administrator for an IP address on the same subnet as the computer you are performing the installation
from.
The IP address is being used by
another device
Disconnect power from the AXIS 240Q.
Run the Ping command (in a Command/DOS window, type ping <IP address of unit>
If you receive: Reply from <IP address>: bytes = 32; time = 10 ms..... - this means that the IP
address may already be in use by another device on your network. You must obtain a new IP
address and reinstall the unit.
If you receive: Request timed out - this means that the IP address is available for use with your
video server. In this case, check all cabling and reinstall the unit.
The AXIS 240Q cannot be accessed from a Web browser
The IP address has been changed 1) Move the AXIS 240Q to an isolated network or to one with no DHCP or BOOTP server. Set the
by DHCP
IP address again, using the ARP Ping command.
2) Access the unit and disable BOOTP and DHCP in the TCP/IP settings. Return the unit to the
main network. The unit now has a fixed IP address that will not change.
3) As an alternative to 2), if dynamic IP address via DHCP or BOOTP is required, select the
required service and then configure IP address change notification from the network settings.
Return the unit to the main network. The unit will now have a dynamic IP address, but will
notify you if the address changes.
Other networking problems
Test the network cable by connecting it to another network device, then Ping that device from
your workstation. See instructions above.
Cannot send notifications, uploads, alarms, etc, to a destination outside the local network
Firewall protection
The video server can be configured to use a SOCKS server to reach networks on the other side
of a firewall/proxy server
Your AXIS 240Q is accessible locally, but not externally
Firewall protection
Check the Internet firewall with your system administrator.
Default routers required
Check if you need to configure the default router settings.
The Internet site is too heavily
loaded
Use a script on your web server to relay images from the AXIS 240Q to the Internet.
The Power indicator is not constantly lit
Faulty power supply
Verify that you are using an AXIS PS-K power supply.
The Status indicator is flashing red and the server is inaccessible
A firmware upgrade has been
A rescue firmware is running in the product. First, set the IP address using AXIS IP utility or ARP
interrupted or the firmware has and Ping, see page 10. Then, using a browser, access the unit and download the latest firmware
been damaged in some other
to the product, see Upgrading the Firmware, on page 50.
way.
No images displayed in the Web interface
Problem with AMC
(Internet Explorer only)
To enable the updating of images in Microsoft Internet Explorer, set your Web browser to allow
ActiveX controls. Also, make sure that AXIS Media Control (AMC) component is installed on
your workstation.
Installation of additional ActiveX Configure your AXIS 240Q to use a Java applet for updating the images under
component restricted or prohib- Live View Config > Layout > Default Viewer for Internet Explorer. See the online help for more
information.
ited
AXIS 240Q - Troubleshooting
Video Image Problems
Image too dark or too light.
Check that the termination dip switch for the video source is set to the correct position. See
also the online help on Video Source Settings
Black borders around the video
image
Adjust the X and/or Y offset, in the Video Source Settings. See the online help for information.
Problems uploading own files
There is only limited space available for the upload of your own files. Try deleting one or more
existing files, to free up space
Missing images in uploads
This can occur when trying to use a larger image buffer than is actually available. Try lowering
the frame rate or the upload period.
Slow image update
Configuring e.g. pre-buffers, motion detection, high resolution images, high frame rates, etc.,
will reduce the performance of the video server.
Slow performance
Slow performance may be caused by e.g. heavy network traffic, multiple users accessing the
unit, low performance clients, use of features such as Motion Detection, Event handling, Image
rotation.
Bad snapshot images
Display incorrectly configured on In Display Properties, configure your display to show at least 65000 colors, i.e. at least 16-bit.
your workstation
Using only 16 or 256 colors on your display will produce dithering artifacts in the image.
Incorrect exposure in images
Incorrect line termination
If the AXIS 240Q is to be connected in loop through with other equipment, disable the input
termination by turning the corresponding DIP switch to OFF.
For additional assistance, please contact your reseller or check the product’s support pages
on the Axis Website at www.axis.com/techsup
53
54 AXIS 240Q - Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
Item
Specification
Model
• AXIS 240Q: Four port video server
Also available as Video Rack Solution
Video compression
• Motion-JPEG.
Resolutions
• 4CIF, 2CIFExp, 2CIF, QCIF
• max 704x480 (NTSC) 768x576 (PAL)
• max 160x120 (NTSC) 176x144 (PAL
Frame rate
• Up to 6/5 (NTSC/PAL) frames per second per channel
Video streaming
• Motion JPEG
• Controllable frame rate and bandwidth
Image settings
• Compression levels: 11
• Rotation: 90º, 180º, 270º
• Aspect ratio correction
• Color: Color, black 6 white
• Overlay capabilities: Time, date, text or image
Security
• Multi-user password protection.
• IP address filtering.
• HTTPS (SSL/TLS) encryption.
Users
• 20 simultaneous users
Pan/Tilt/Zoom
• PTZ support for remote camera control. Please see www.axis.com for information
about supported devices.
Terminal connector - I/O
ports and connections
• 4 digital alarm inputs
• 4 digital output transistors (max 24V, 0.1 A)
• RS-485 serial port
• Alternative power
D-Sub connector
• RS-232 serial port. Max 115 Kbit/s.
Network connector
• Ethernet 10BaseT/100BaseTX, connected via CAT 5 network cable to RJ-45
network socket.
Processors and memory
• ARTPEC-2 compression chip
• ETRAX-100 LX (32-bit RISC, 100MIPS CPU)
• 32 MB RAM
• 8 MB Flash memory
Power
• External AXIS PS-K Power adapter (included), 9V DC, 9W.
• Alternative power connection via terminal connector; 7-20V DC, max 7W.
Operating Conditions
• Temp: 5oC (41oF) to 50oC (122oF).
• Humidity: 20-80% RH (non-condensing).
Minimum web browsing
requirements
• Pentium III CPU 500 MHz or higher, or equivalent AMD.
• 128 MB RAM.
• AGP graphic card, Direct Draw, 32 MB RAM.
• Windows XP, 2000, NT4.0, ME or 98.
• DirectX 9.0 or later.
• Internet Explorer 6.x or later.
• For other operating systems and browsers, please see www.axis.com/techsup.
AXIS 240Q - Technical Specifications
Item
Specification
Supported protocols
• Motion JPEG streaming: HTTP.
• Event notification: HTTP, TCP, SMTP.
• Image upload: FTP, SMTP, HTTP.
• Network control data: DHCP, UPnP, ARP, DNS, DynDNS3, NAT traversal, SOCKS,
SNMP, NTP Security: SSL/TLS*, HTTPS.
• More information on protocol usage is available at: www.axis.com.
• This product includes software developed by the Open SSL Project for use in the
Open SSL Tool kit (www.openssl.org).
Approvals - EMC
• CE compliant according to:
EN550022/1998 Class B
EN550024/1998
EN61000-3-2:2000
EN61000-3-3:2000
• FCC Subpart B, Class A, B
• VCCI Class B
• C-tick AS/NZS 3548
• Canadian ICES-003 B by compliance with EN55022/1998 Class B
Approvals - Safety
• EN60950, UL, CSA (power adapter only)
Video Inputs
• 4 BNC composite video inputs with 75 Ohm/Hi Z termination, including
autosensing for NTSC and PAL.
Management
• Remote configuration and status using web-based setup tools.
Pre/Post Alarm Buffer
• Up to 3MB memory available per video source for pre/post alarm image storage.
Dimensions
• Height: 1.7 (4.2 cm)
• Width: 5.5 (14.0 cm)
• Length: 6.1 (15.5 cm)
• Weight: 1.2 lb. (0.54 kg) power adapter not included
Complimentary Software
• AXIS Media Control (AMC) - ActiveX component software required for Microsoft
Internet Explorer - installed automatically on first use.
• Optional: AXIS IP Utility - For Windows installation.
55
56 AXIS 240Q - Technical Specifications
General performance considerations
When setting up your system, it is important to consider how various settings and
situations will affect performance. Some factors affect the amount of bandwidth (the bit
rate) required, others can affect the frame rate, and some will affect both. If the load on the
CPU reaches its maximum, this will also affect the frame rate.
The following factors are among the most important to consider:
• High image resolutions and/or lower compression levels result in larger images.
Bandwidth affected.
• Access by large numbers of Motion JPEG clients. Bandwidth affected.
• Video channels - The number of video channels simultaneously accessed by clients affects the video server’s CPU and video compression load.
• Simultaneous viewing of different streams (resolution, compression, etc.) by different clients. Frame rate and bandwidth affected.
• Heavy usage of event settings affects the CPU load. Frame rate affected.
• Enabled motion detection. Frame rate and bandwidth affected.
• HTTPS - Increases the server’s CPU load when encrypting data.
• Heavy network utilization due to poor infrastructure. Bandwidth affected
• Poorly performing client PC - Lowers perceived performance.
Optimizing your system
To see the bandwidth and frame rate currently required by the video stream, the AXIS
240Q provides a tool that can be used to display these values directly in the video image.
To do this, special format strings are added as part
of a text overlay. Simply add #r (average frame
rate in fps) and/or #b (average bandwidth in Kbps)
to the overlay.
For detailed instructions, please see the online help
for Video & Image > Overlay Settings, and the
help for File Naming & Date/Time Formats.
Important!
•The figures displayed here are the values as delivered by the server. If other restrictions are
currently in force, (e.g. bandwidth limitation) these values might not correspond to those
actually received by the client.
•For Motion JPEG, these values will only be accurate as long as no frame rate limit has been
specified.
AXIS 240Q - Technical Specifications
Frame rates - Motion JPEG
The AXIS 240Q has a frame rate of up to 6/5 fps per channel for all resolutions.
Bandwidth
As there are many factors affecting bandwidth, it is very difficult to predict the required
amounts. The settings that affect bandwidth are:
•
•
•
•
•
the image resolution
the image compression
the frame rate
the analog cameras connected to the video servervideo server
the audio settings
There are also factors in the monitored scene that will affect the bandwidth. These are:
• the amount of motion
• the image’s complexity
• the lighting conditions.
57
58 AXIS 240Q - Glossary
Glossary
Active Speaker - a speaker with a built-in power
amplifier.
ActiveX - ActiveX is a standard that enables software
components to interact with one another in a networked
environment, regardless of the language(s) used to create
them. Web browsers may come into contact with ActiveX
controls, ActiveX documents, and ActiveX scripts.
ActiveX controls are often downloaded and installed
automatically as required.
AF (Autofocus) - A system by which the camera lens
automatically focuses on a selected part of the subject.
AMC (AXIS Media Control) - AMC is the ActiveX
component required to view moving images from an Axis
video device in Internet Explorer. The component is
installed automatically on the viewing computer on first
use. Once installed, AMC can be configured from
Windows Control Panel.
Analog video camera - The signal from an analog video
camera is viewed directly on e.g. a monitor in the analog
system, which depends on traditional analog cabling.
Alternatively, the signal can be digitized with the use of a
video server, and can then be made available over a data
(IP) network.
Angle - The field of view, relative to a standard lens in a
35mm still camera, expressed in degrees, e.g. 30°. For
practical purposes, this is the area that a lens can cover,
where the angle of view is determined by the focal length
of the lens. A wide-angle lens has a short focal length and
covers a wider angle of view than standard or telephoto
lenses, which have longer focal lengths.
API (Application Programming Interface) - An API is a
set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software
applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a
program by providing all the required building blocks.
The Axis VAPIX API allows Axis products to be
integrated into other applications.
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This protocol is used
to associate an IP address to a hardware MAC address. A
request is broadcast on the local network to discover the
MAC address for an IP address.
ARTPEC (Axis Real Time Picture Encoder) - A chip
designed by Axis for image compression. ARTPEC
supports a range of CCD and CMOS sensors, built-in
functionality for sharpening, backlight compensation,
noise reduction and white balance, support for multiple
Motion-JPEG streams, support for MPEG-4 part 2, up to
30 frames/second from 4 simultaneous video sources and
real-time compression of up to 45 Megapixels/second.
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) - A circuit
designed for a specific application, as opposed to a
general purpose circuit, such as a microprocessor.
Aspect ratio - A ratio of width to height in images. A
common aspect ratio used for television screens and
computer monitors is 4:3. High-definition television
(HDTV) uses an aspect ratio of 9:16.
Autoiris (DC-Iris) - This special type of iris is electrically
controlled by the camera, to automatically regulate the
amount of light allowed to enter.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) - A video format that
supports simultaneous playback of audio and video.
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service - This free service
provides an Axis network product with a unique DNS or
domain name (URL address), which can then be used
instead of an IP address to access the product from a web
browser.
AXIS IP Utility - A tool for discovering and setting IP
addresses for Axis network devices. AXIS IP Utility is
supplied free of charge by Axis.
AXIS Camera Management - A powerful and efficient
installation and management tool for Axis network video
products. The tool can automatically find and set IP
addresses, show connection status and manage firmware
upgrades of multiple devices.
Bitmap - A bitmap is a data file representing a
rectangular grid of pixels. It defines a display space and
color for each pixel (or "bit") in the display space. This
type of image is known as a "raster graphic." GIF's and
JPEG's are examples of image file types that contain
bitmaps. Because a bitmap uses this fixed raster method,
it cannot easily be rescaled without losing definition.
Conversely, a vector graphic image uses geometrical
shapes to represent the image, and can thus be quickly
rescaled.
Bit rate - The bit rate (in kbit/s or Mbit/s) is often referred
to as speed, but actually defines the number of bits/time
unit and not distance/time unit.
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is an open standard for wireless
transmission of voice and data between mobile devices
(PCs, handheld computers, telephones and printers).
Bonjour - Also known as zero-configuration networking,
Bonjour enables the automatic discovery of computers,
devices, and services on IP networks. Bonjour allows
devices to automatically discover each other without the
need to enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers.
Bonjour is developed by Apple Computer Inc.
BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) - A protocol that can
automatically configure a network device (give it an IP
address). BOOTP is the basis for a more advanced network
management protocol, the Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP).
Broadband - In network engineering terms, this describes
transmission methods where two or more signals share
the same carrier. In more popular terminology, broadband
is taken to mean high-speed data transmission.
AXIS 240Q - Glossary
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) - This light-sensitive
image device used in many digital cameras is a large
integrated circuit that contains hundreds of thousands of
photo-sites (pixels) that convert light energy into
electronic signals. Its size is measured diagonally and can
be 1/4", 1/3", 1/2" or 2/3".
CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) - A CCTV system is a
closed/private video system, usually constructed with
coaxial cabling, and used within a single building/group
of buildings. It is used to visually monitor the location for
security or industrial purposes. Video from the CCTV
system can be recorded and viewed on-site or remotely.
CCTV video camera - A traditional CCTV video camera is
an analog camera, available in both monochrome (black
and white) and color. Cameras can be set in fixed
positions or placed on "Pan/Tilt/Zoom" devices, which
allow the camera to be maneuvered. Using a zoom lens
provides a closer view of the object being viewed. CCTV
analog video cameras can be viewed over a computer
network by using a video server.
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for
communication between a web server and other (CGI)
programs. For example, a HTML page that contains a form
might use a CGI program to process the form data once it
is submitted.
CIF (Common Intermediate Format) - CIF refers to the
analog video resolutions 352x288 pixels (PAL) and
352x240 pixels (NTSC). See also Resolution.
Client-server - Client-server describes the relationship
between two computer programs in which one program,
the client, makes a service request from another program,
the server, which fulfils the request. Typically, multiple
client programs share the services of a common server
program. A web browser is a client program that requests
services (the sending of web pages or files) from a web
server.
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) - A
CMOS is a widely used type of semiconductor that uses
both negative and positive circuits. Since only one of the
circuit types is on at any given time, CMOS chips require
less power than chips using just one type of transistor.
CMOS image sensors also allow processing circuits to be
included on the same chip, an advantage not possible
with CCD sensors, which are also much more expensive to
produce.
Coaxial cable - Coaxial cable is the standard means of
transmitting analog video in a CCTV system. Coaxial is
also used by cable companies to distribute television in
residential buildings.
Codec - In communications engineering, a codec is
usually a coder/decoder. Codecs are used in integrated
circuits or chips that convert e.g. analog video and audio
signals into a digital format for transmission. The codec
also converts received digital signals back into analog
format. A codec uses analog-to-digital conversion and
digital-to-analog conversion in the same chip.
Codec can also mean compression/decompression, in
which case it is generally taken to mean an algorithm or
computer program for reducing the size of large files and
programs.
Composite video - A type of video signal in which the
red, blue and green signals (sometimes audio signals too)
are mixed together.
Compression - See Image Compression.
Contrast - Defines the degree of difference between the
lightest and darkest parts of an image or video stream.
Control unit - If a CCTV system has more than one
camera, there must be a way to control the video signals
going to recorders and monitors. There are three basic
types of Video Control Unit: Multiplexer, Switch and
Quad.
dB (Decibels) - A unit to measure sound level changes. A
3dB change is the smallest level change we can hear. A
3dB change is actually twice or half the audio power
level. A gain of 0dB will leave the signal level unchanged.
DC-Iris - This special type of iris is electrically controlled
by the camera, to automatically regulate the amount of
light allowed to enter.
Decoder - See video decoder.
De-interlacing - See interlacing.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP is
a protocol that lets network administrators automate and
centrally manage the assignment of Internet Protocol (IP)
addresses to network devices in a network.
DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that
a given IP address will be valid for a computer. The lease
time can vary, depending on how long a user is likely to
require the network connection at a particular location.
DHCP also supports static addresses for e.g. computers
running web servers, which need a permanent IP address.
DNS (Domain Name System) - DNS is used to locate and
translate Internet domain names into IP (Internet
Protocol) addresses. A domain name is a meaningful and
easy-to-remember name for an Internet address. For
example the domain name www.example.com is much
easier to remember than 192.0.34.166. The translation
tables for domain names are contained in Domain name
servers.
Domain server - Domains can also be used by
organizations that wish to centralize the management of
their (Windows) computers. Each user within a domain
has an account that usually allows them to log in to and
use any computer in the domain, although restrictions
may also apply. The domain server is the server that
authenticates the users on the network.
59
60 AXIS 240Q - Glossary
Dome network camera - A remotely controllable camera
mounted in a special housing, characterized by the dome
shaped glass or plastic covering behind which the camera
resides. Usually mounted on a ceiling and looking
downwards, a dome camera can often rotate up to 360
degrees, thus providing excellent coverage of large areas.
Duplex - See Full-duplex.
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) - An optic disc with the
same physical size as a CD, but with significantly greater
storage capacity.
DVR (Digital Video Recorder) - A DVR records analog
video to a hard disk in digital format. Most DVR's use the
MPEG-2 format for encoding analog video signals.
Encoder - See Video encoder.
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area
network technology. An Ethernet LAN typically uses
special grades of twisted pair wires. The most commonly
installed Ethernet systems are 10BASE-T and
100BASE-T10, which provide transmission speeds up to
10 Mbps and 100 Mbps respectively.
ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - The ETRAX chip is
the cornerstone of Axis technology and the 'brain' in
nearly all Axis products. A multipurpose Linux chip with
integrated Ethernet networking and extremely flexible I/O
options.
Factory default settings - These are the settings that
originally applied for a device when it was first delivered
from the factory. If it should become necessary to reset a
device to its factory default settings, this will, for many
devices, completely reset any settings that were changed
by the user.
Firewall - A firewall works as a barrier between networks,
e.g. between a Local Area Network and the Internet. The
firewall ensures that only authorized users are allowed to
access the one network from the other. A firewall can be
software running on a computer, or it can be a standalone
hardware device.
Fixed dome network camera - This type of camera
cannot be remotely controlled as regards movement, but
is mounted in the same type of dome as a controllable
network dome camera. This camera must be positioned
manually to provide the required coverage.
Fixed network camera - This type of camera cannot be
remotely controlled as regards movement. It must be
positioned manually to provide the required coverage.
Fixed iris - See Autoiris.
Focal length - Measured in millimeters, the focal length
of a camera lens determines the width of the horizontal
field of view, which in turn is measured in degrees.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - FTP is an application
protocol that uses the TCP/IP protocols, used to exchange
files between computers/devices on networks.
Frame - A frame is a complete video image. In the 2:1
interlaced scanning format of the RS-170 and CCIR
formats, a frame is made up of two separate fields of
262.5 or 312.5 lines interlaced at 60 or 50 Hz to form a
complete frame, which appears at 30 or 25 Hz. In video
cameras with a progressive scan, each frame is scanned
line-by-line and not interlaced; most are also displayed at
30 and 25 Hz.
Frame rate - The frame rate used to describe the
frequency at which a video stream is updated is measured
in frames per second (fps). A higher frame rate is
advantageous when there is movement in the video
stream, as it maintains image quality throughout.
Full-duplex - Transmission of data in two directions
simultaneously. In an audio system this would describe
e.g. a telephone systems. Half-duplex also provides
bi-directional communication, but only in one direction
at a time, as in a walkie-talkie system. See also Simplex.
G.711 - The international standard for encoding
telephone audio on a 64 kbps channel. It is a pulse code
modulation (PCM) scheme operating at 8 kHz sample rate.
G.726 - A frequently used speech-compression algorithm
in telecommunications due to its high perceived speech
quality and low resource requirements.
Gain - Gain is the amplification factor and the extent to
which an analog amplifier boosts the strength of a signal.
Amplification factors are usually expressed in terms of
power. The decibel (dB) is the most common way of
quantifying the gain of an amplifier.
Gateway - A gateway is a point in a network that acts as
an entry point to another network. In a corporate network
for example, a computer server acting as a gateway often
also acts as a proxy server and a firewall server. A
gateway is often associated with both a router, which
knows where to direct a given packet of data that arrives
at the gateway, and a switch, which furnishes the actual
path in and out of the gateway for a given packet.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - GIF is one of the
most common file formats used for images in web pages.
There are two versions of the format, 87a and 89a.
Version 89a supports animations, i.e. a short sequence of
images within a single GIF file. A GIF89a can also be
specified for interlaced presentation.
GOV (Group Of VOPs) - A group of VOP's is the basic
unit of an MPEG-4 video stream. The GOV contains
different types and numbers of VOP's (I-VOP's, P-VOP's,
etc) as determined by the GOV length and GOV structure.
See also VOP.
GOV length - The GOV length determines the number of
images (VOP's) in the GOV structure.
See also GOV and VOP.
GOV structure - The GOV structure describes the
composition of an MPEG-4 video stream, as regards the
AXIS 240Q - Glossary
type of images (I-VOP's or P-VOP's) included in the
stream, and their internal order. See also GOV and VOP.
Half-duplex - See Full-duplex.
connection between the communication end-points,
packets can be sent via different routes and do not need
to arrive at the destination in the correct order.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - HTML is the set
of "markup" symbols or codes inserted in a file intended
for display in web browser. The markup tells the browser
how to display the page's words and images for the user.
Once the data packets have arrived at the correct
destination, another protocol - Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP) - puts them in the right order.
See also TCP.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) - HTTP is the set of
rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound,
video, and other multimedia files) on the web. The HTTP
protocol runs on top of the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
IP address - An IP address is simply an address on an IP
network used by a computer/device connected to that
network. IP addresses allow all the connected
computers/devices to find each other and to pass data
back and forth.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL) - HTTPS
is a protocol used by web browsers and servers to encrypt
and decrypt user page requests and the pages returned by
the server. The encrypted exchange of information is
governed by the use of an HTTPS certificate (issued by a
Certificate Authority), which guarantees the authenticity
of the server.
Hub - A (network) hub is used to connect multiple devices
to the network. The hub transmits all data to all devices
connected to it, whereas a switch will only transmit the
data to the device it is specifically intended for.
IEEE 802.11 - A family of standards for wireless LANs.
The 802.11a standard supports 1 or 2 Mbit/s transmission
on the 5 GHz band. IEEE 802.11b supports data rates up
to11 Mbit/s on the 2.4 GHz band, while 802.11g allows
up to 54 Mbit/s on the 2.4 GHz band.
Image compression - Image compression minimizes the
file size (in bytes) of an image. Two of the most common
compressed image formats are JPEG and GIF. See also
MPEG and Motion JPEG.
Interlacing - Interlaced video is video captured at 50
pictures (known as fields) per second, of which every 2
consecutive fields (at half height) are then combined into
1 frame. Interlacing was developed many years ago for
the analog TV world and is still used widely today. It
provides good results when viewing motion in standard
TV pictures, although there is always some degree of
distortion in the image.
To view interlaced video on e.g. a computer monitor, the
video must first be de-interlaced, to produce progressive
video, which consists of complete images, one after the
other, at 25 frames per second. See also Progressive scan.
IP (Internet Protocol) - The Internet Protocol is a method
transmitting data over a network. Data to be sent is
divided into individual and completely independent
"packets." Each computer (or host) on the Internet has at
least one address that uniquely identifies it from all
others, and each data packet contains both the sender's
address and the receiver's address.
The Internet Protocol ensures that the data packets all
arrive at the intended address. As IP is a connectionless
protocol, which means that there is no established
To avoid conflicts, each IP address on any given network
must be unique. An IP address can be assigned as fixed,
so that it does not change, or it can be assigned
dynamically (and automatically) by DHCP.
An IP address consists of four groups (or quads) of
decimal digits separated by periods, e.g. 130.5.5.25.
Different parts of the address represent different things.
Some part will represent the network number or address,
and some other part will represent the local machine
address. See also IP (Internet Protocol).
Infrared (IR) - Infrared radiation is radiation at a longer
wavelength than visible light, which means it cannot be
seen by the naked human eye. As infrared radiation can
be detected as heat, this can be shown on a screen or
captured by a digital camera, with hotter objects showing
up brighter against colder surroundings (e.g. a human
body against a colder background).
As color cameras can "see" infrared radiation as well as
visible light, these cameras are equipped with an IR-cut
filter, to prevent distortion of the colors the human eye
can see. To use the camera in very dark locations or at
night, this filter can be removed, to allow infrared
radiation to hit the image sensor and thus produce
images. An infrared lamp can be used for improved
illumination for night surveillance, while not producing
any extra visible light.
Inputs/Outputs (I/O's) - The digital I/Os on, for example,
a network camera can be used to connect any device that
can toggle between an open and a closed circuit.
For example, if a door switch is used as an input device,
opening the door could trigger the upload of video images
and the sending of notification messages.
An output might, for example, be used to automatically
start a siren when there is a motion detection trigger.
ISMA (Internet Streaming Media Alliance) - ISMA's goal
is: "To accelerate the adoption and deployment of open
standards for streaming rich media content such as video,
audio, and associated data, over Internet protocols."
I-VOP - See VOP.
61
62 AXIS 240Q - Glossary
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) - Together
with the GIF file format, JPEG is an image file type
commonly used on the web. A JPEG image is a bitmap,
and usually has the file suffix '.jpg' or ".jpeg." When
creating a JPEG image, it is possible to configure the level
of compression to use. As the lowest compression (i.e. the
highest quality) results in the largest file, there is a
trade-off between image quality and file size.
kbit/s (kilobits per second) - A measure of the bit rate,
i.e. the rate at which bits are passing a given point. See
also Bit rate.
LAN (Local Area Network) - A LAN is a group of
computers and associated devices that typically share
common resources within a limited geographical area.
Linux - Linux is an open source operating system within
the Unix family. Because of its robustness and
availability, Linux has won popularity in the open source
community and among commercial application
developers.
Lux - A standard unit of illumination measurement.
MAC address (Media Access Control address) - A MAC
address is a unique identifier associated with a piece of
networking equipment, or more specifically, its interface
with the network. For example, the network card in a
computer has its own MAC address.
Manual iris - This is the opposite of an autoiris, i.e. the
camera iris must be adjusted manually to regulate the
amount of light allowed to reach the image sensor.
Mbit/s (Megabits per second) - A measure of the bit rate,
i.e. the rate at which bits are passing a given point.
Commonly used to give the "speed" of a network. A LAN
might run at 10 or 100 Mbit/s. See also Bit rate.
Monitor - A monitor is very similar to a television set, but
lacks the electronics to pick up regular television signals.
Motion JPEG - Motion JPEG is a simple
compression/decompression technique for network video.
Latency is low and image quality is guaranteed, regardless
of movement or complexity of the image. Image quality is
controlled by adjusting the compression level, which in
turn provides control over the file size, and thereby the bit
rate.
High-quality individual images from the Motion JPEG
stream are easily extracted. See also JPEG and GIF.
Megapixel - See Pixel.
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) - The Moving
Picture Experts Group develops standards for digital video
and audio compression. It operates under the auspices of
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The MPEG standards are an evolving series, each designed
for a different purpose.
MPEG-2 - The designation for a group of audio and video
coding standards, and is typically used to encode audio
and video for broadcast signals, including digital satellite
and Cable TV. MPEG-2, with some modifications, is also
the coding format used by standard commercial DVD
movies.
MPEG-4 - MPEG-4 is a group of audio and video coding
standards and related technology. The primary uses for
the MPEG-4 standard are web (streaming media) and CD
distribution, conversational (videophone), and broadcast
television.
Most of the features included in MPEG-4 are left to
individual developers to decide whether to implement
them or not. This means that there are probably no
complete implementations of the entire MPEG-4 set of
standards. To deal with this, the standard includes the
concept of "profiles" and "levels", allowing a specific set
of capabilities to be defined in a manner appropriate for a
subset of applications.
Multicast - Bandwidth-conserving technology that
reduces bandwidth usage by simultaneously delivering a
single stream of information to multiple network
recipients. See also Unicast.
Multiplexer - A multiplexer is a high-speed switch that
provides full-screen images from up to 16 analog
cameras. Multiplexers can playback everything that
happened on any one camera with no interference from
the other cameras on the system.
Network camera (Network video camera) - A network
camera is a camera and computer combined in one
intelligent unit. It captures and sends live video directly
over an IP network such as a LAN, intranet or the
Internet. Users can view and/or manage the camera using
a standard web browser or application software from any
local or remote computer on a network. The camera
allows multiple authorized viewers from different
locations to simultaneously access images. A network
camera is sometimes known as an IP camera.
Network connectivity - The physical (wired or wireless)
and logical (protocol) connection of a computer network
or an individual device to a network, such as the Internet
or a LAN.
Network video - Network video (often referred to as
IP-Surveillance for specific applications within security
surveillance and remote monitoring) is a system that gives
users the ability to monitor and record video over an IP
network (LAN/WAN/Internet).
NTSC (National Television System Committee) - NTSC is
an analog color encoding system used in television
systems in Japan, the United States and other parts of the
Americas. NTSC defines the video signal using 525 TV
lines per frame, at a refresh rate equal to 30 frames per
second. See also PAL.
AXIS 240Q - Glossary
NVR (Network Video Recorder) - A dedicated Network
Video Recorder (NVR) can be used to gather data streams
from remote network cameras and video servers and store
them on a hard disk. An NVR can be a standard
networked PC, or a dedicated video recording hard disk
server with its own software application.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) - This is a
designation for companies that manufacture equipment
that is then marketed and sold to other companies under
their own names.
PAL (Phase Alternating Line) - PAL is an analog color
encoding system used in television systems in Europe and
in many other parts of the world. PAL defines the video
signal using 625 TV lines per frame, at a refresh rate
equal to 25 frames per second. See also NTSC.
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) - A small handheld
computer, which usually provides at least a calendar, an
organizer and a notepad.
PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) - An early standard for
securing electronic mail. The PEM-format is often used
for representing an HTTPS certificate or certificate
request.
Ping - Ping is a basic network program used
diagnostically to check the status of a network host or
device. Ping can be used to see if a particular network
address (IP address or host name) is occupied or not, or if
the host at that address is responding normally. Ping can
be run from e.g. the Windows Command prompt or the
command line in Unix.
Pixel (Picture Element) - A pixel is one of the many tiny
dots that make up a digital image. The color and intensity
of each pixel represents a tiny area of the complete image.
PoE (Power over Ethernet) - Power over Ethernet
provides power to a network device via the same cable as
used for the network connection. This is very useful for
IP-Surveillance and remote monitoring applications in
places where it may be too impractical or expensive to
power the device from a power outlet.
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) - A protocol that uses a
serial interface for communication between two network
devices. For example, a PC connected by a phone line to a
server.
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) - A protocol
(set of communication rules) that allows corporations to
extend their own corporate network through private
"tunnels" over the public Internet. In this way a
corporation can effectively use a WAN (Wide Area
Network) as a large single LAN (Local Area Network). This
kind of interconnection is known as a virtual private
network (VPN).
Pre/post alarm images - The images from immediately
before and after an alarm. These images are stored in a
buffer for later retrieval.
Progressive scan - Progressive scan, as opposed to
interlaced video, scans the entire picture, line by line
every sixteenth of a second. In other words, captured
images are not split into separate fields as in interlaced
scanning.
Computer monitors do not need interlace to show the
picture on the screen, but instead show them
progressively, on one line at a time in perfect order i.e. 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc., so there is virtually no "flickering"
effect. In a surveillance application, this can be critical
when viewing detail within a moving image, such as a
person running. A high-quality monitor is required to get
the best from progressive scan. See also Interlacing.
Protocol - A special set of rules governing how two
entities will communicate. Protocols are found at many
levels of communication, and there are hardware
protocols and software protocols.
Proxy server - In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a
proxy server acts as an intermediary between a
workstation user and the Internet. This provides security,
administrative control, and a caching service. Any proxy
server associated with a gateway server, or part of a
gateway server, effectively separates the enterprise
network from the outside network and the local firewall.
It is the firewall server that protects the enterprise
network from outside intrusion.
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) - A PTZ-enabled camera can be
remotely controlled so as to change the view from the
camera. Panning is the movement of the camera along its
horizontal axis, tilting is the movement of the camera
along its vertical axis, and zooming is the adjustment of
the zoom lens to magnify the view.
P-VOP - See VOP.
Quad view - A Quad view displays images from up to
four cameras on a single screen; where the images from
each camera take up approximately a quarter of the
display area.
Remote monitoring - Network video gives users the
ability to gather information at all key points of an
operation and view it in realtime. This makes the
technology ideal for monitoring equipment, people and
places, both locally and remotely. Application examples
include traffic and production line monitoring, and the
monitoring of multiple store locations.
Resolution - Image resolution is a measure of how much
detail a digital image can hold: the greater the resolution,
the greater the level of detail. Resolution can be specified
as the number of pixel-columns (width) by the number of
pixel-rows (height), e.g. 320x240.
Alternatively, the total number of pixels (usually in
megapixels) in the image can be used. In analog systems
it is also common to use other format designations, such
as CIF, QCIF, 4CIF, etc.
63
64 AXIS 240Q - Glossary
RS-232 - A long-established standard that describes the
physical interface and protocol for low-speed serial data
communication between devices. This is the interface that
e.g. a computer uses to talk to and exchange data with a
modem and other serial devices.
RS-422 - A serial data communication protocol that
specifies 4-wire, full-duplex, differential line, multi-drop
communications. It provides balanced data transmission
with unidirectional/non-reversible, terminated or
non-terminated transmission lines. RS-422 does not allow
multiple drivers, only multiple receivers. Maximum
recommended range is 4,000 feet (1200 meters).
Maximum recommended baud rate is 10Mbit/s.
RS-485 - An upgraded version of RS-422 that supports
up to 32 devices on the same connection. RS-485 is an
electrical specification of a two-wire, half-duplex,
multipoint serial connection. It enables the configuration
of inexpensive local networks and multidrop
communications links. It offers high data transmission
speeds (up to 10Mbit/s), and as it uses a differential
balanced line over twisted pair (like RS-422), it can span
relatively large distances (4000 feet or 1200 meters).
RS-485 only specifies the electrical characteristics of the
driver and the receiver. It does not specify or recommend
any data protocol.
RTCP (Real-Time Control Protocol) - RTCP provides
support for real-time conferencing of groups of any size
within an intranet. This support includes source
identification and support for gateways like audio and
video bridges as well as multicast-to-unicast translators.
It offers quality-of-service feedback from receivers to the
multicast group as well as support for the synchronization
of different media streams.
RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) - An Internet
protocol for the transport of real-time data, e.g. audio and
video. It can be used for media-on-demand as well as
interactive services such as Internet telephony.
RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) - A control
protocol, and a starting point for negotiating transports
such as RTP, multicast and Unicast, and for negotiating
codecs. RTSP can be considered a "remote control" for
controlling the media stream delivered by a media server.
RTSP servers typically use RTP as the protocol for the
actual transport of audio/video data.
Router - A device that determines the next network point
to which a packet should be forwarded on its way to its
final destination. A router creates and/or maintains a
special routing table that stores information on how best
to reach certain destinations. A router is sometimes
included as part of a network switch. See also Switch.
Security surveillance - Network video's advanced
functionality makes it highly suited to the applications
involved in security surveillance. The flexibility of digital
technology enhances security personnel's ability to
protect people, property and assets. Such systems are
therefore an especially attractive option for companies
currently using CCTV.
Server - In general, a server is a computer program tha
provides services to other computer programs in the same
or other computers. A computer running a server program
is also frequently referred to as a server. In practice, the
server may contain any number of server and client
programs. A web server is the computer program that
supplies the requested HTML pages or files to the client
(web browser).
Sharpness - This is the control of fine detail within a
picture. This feature was originally introduced into color
TV sets that used notch filter decoders. This filter took
away all high frequency detail in the black and white
region of the picture. The sharpness control attempted to
put some of that detail back in the picture. Sharpness
controls are mostly superfluous in today's high-end TVs.
The only logical requirement for it nowadays is on a VHS
machine.
Simplex - In simplex operation, a network cable or
communications channel can only send information in
one direction. See also Full-duplex.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - Used for sending
and receiving e-mail. However, as it is "simple," it is
limited in its ability to queue messages at the receiving
end, and is usually used with one of two other protocols,
POP3 or IMAP. These other protocols allow the user to
save messages in a server mailbox and download them
periodically from the server.
SMTP authentication - An extension of SMTP, where the
client is required to log into the mail server before or
during the sending of email. It can be used to allow
legitimate users to send email while denying the service to
unauthorized users, such as spammers.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - SNMP
forms part of the Internet Protocol suite, as defined by the
Internet Engineering Task Force. The protocol can support
monitoring of network-attached devices for any
conditions that warrant administrative attention.
Sockets - Sockets are a method for communication
between a client program and a server program over a
network. A socket is defined as "the endpoint in a
connection." Sockets are created and used with a set of
programming requests or "function calls" sometimes
called the sockets application programming interface
(API).
SSL/TSL
(Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security) - These
two protocols (SSL is succeeded by TSL) are cryptographic
protocols that provide secure communication on a
network. SSL is commonly used over HTTP to form
HTTPS, as used e.g. on the Internet for electronic financial
transactions. SSL uses public key certificates to verify the
AXIS 240Q - Glossary
identity of the server.
Subnet & subnet mask - A subnet is an identifiably
separate part of an organization's network. Typically, a
subnet may represent all the machines at one geographic
location, in one building, or on the same local area
network (LAN). Having an organization's network divided
into subnets allows it to be connected to the Internet with
a single shared network address.
The subnet mask is the part of the IP address that tells a
network router how to find the subnet that the data
packet should be delivered to. Using a subnet mask saves
the router having to handle the entire 32-bit IP address; it
simply looks at the bits selected by the mask.
Switch - A network device that connects network
segments together, and which selects a path for sending a
unit of data to its next destination. In general, a switch is
a simpler and faster mechanism than a router, which
requires knowledge about the network and how to
determine the route. Some switches include the router
function. See also Router.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - TCP is used along
with the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit data as packets
between computers over the network. While IP takes care
of the actual packet delivery, TCP keeps track of the
individual packets that the communication (e.g. requested
a web page file) is divided into, and, when all packets
have arrived at their destination, it reassembles them to
re-form the complete file.
TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that
a connection is established between the two end-points
and is maintained until the data has been successfully
exchanged between the communicating applications.
Telnet - Telnet is a simple method with which to access
another network device, e.g. a computer. The HTTP
protocol and the FTP protocols allow you to request
specific files from remote computers, but do not allow you
logon as a user of that computer. With Telnet, you log on
as a regular user with whatever privileges you may have
been granted for specific applications and data residing
on that computer.
Time-lapse recorder - This type of video recorder is
commonly used in the security industry and has the
ability to record up to one week of video on a single tape.
The most commonly used timing is the 24-hour mode.
Having to change tapes only once a day and retaining
large amounts of information are perceived as key
advantages in using this particular mode of recording.
TVL (TV Lines) - A method of defining resolutions in
analog video.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - UDP is a
communications protocol that offers limited service for
exchanging data in a network that uses the Internet
Protocol (IP). UDP is an alternative to the Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP). The advantage of UDP is that it is
not required to deliver all data and may drop network
packets when there is e.g. network congestion. This is
suitable for live video, as there is no point in
re-transmitting old information that will not be displayed
anyway.
Unicast - Communication between a single sender and a
single receiver over a network. A new connection is
established for each new user. See also Multicast.
UPnPTM - A set of computer network protocols that allows
the automatic peer-to-peer detection of devices on the
network. UPnP is promoted by the UPnP Forum.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - An "address" on the
network.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) - A plug-and-play interface
between a computer and peripheral devices (scanners,
printers etc)
Varifocal lens - A lens that provides a wide range of focal
lengths, as opposed to a lens with a fixed focal length,
which only provides one.
Video camera - See Network camera and CCTV video
camera.
Video decoder - A network video decoder converts digital
video and audio streams back into analog signals, which
can then be displayed on standard TV sets, analog
monitors and video switches.
Video encoder (video server) - A video encoder/server
digitizes analog video signals and sends digital images
directly over an IP network, such as a LAN, intranet or the
Internet. In effect, it turns an analog video system into a
network video system and enables users to view live
images using a web browser or application software on
any local or remote computer on a network.
Video management software - Video management
software supplies the means for monitoring, analyzing
and recording network video. In its simplest form, it offers
live viewing, storage and retrieval of video sequences.
Advanced applications may also provide support for
recording of live video from multiple devices, different
recording modes, search functions, remote access via a
web browser, control of PTZ devices, etc.
VMD (Video Motion Detection) - Video Motion detection
defines activity (motion) in a monitored scene by
analyzing image data and differences in series of images.
This detection can, for example, be used to trigger an
alarm event in a network camera and start the upload of
images from the camera.
Video switcher - An analog video switcher sequentially
displays full screen images, from one camera after
another, typically at 3-5 seconds intervals. Other camera
sources are not recorded while the image source from one
camera is displayed on screen.
65
66 AXIS 240Q - Glossary
VPN (Virtual Private Network) - This creates a secure
"tunnel" between the points within the VPN. Only devices
with the correct "key" will be able to work within the
VPN. The VPN network can be within a company LAN
(Local Area Network), but different sites can also be
connected over the Internet in a secure way. One common
use for VPN is for connecting a remote computer to the
corporate network, via e.g. a direct phone line or via the
Internet.
VOP (Video Object Plane) - A VOP is an image frame in
an MPEG-4 video stream. There are several types of VOP:
- An I-VOP is a complete image frame.
- An P-VOP codes the differences between images, as long
as it is more efficient to do so. Otherwise it codes the
whole image, which may also be a completely new image.
WAN (Wide-Area-Network) - Similar to a LAN, but on a
larger geographical scale.
W-LAN (Wireless LAN) - A wireless LAN is a wireless
local area network that uses radio waves as its carrier:
where the network connections for end-users are wireless.
The main network structure usually uses cables.
Web camera (Webcam) - A camera that requires a
constant connection (via e.g. USB) to a PC for its
operation. See also Network camera.
Web server - A program that allows web browsers to
retrieve files from computers connected to the Internet.
The Web server listens for requests from browsers and
upon receiving a request for a file sends it back to the
browser. The primary function of a Web server is to serve
pages to other remote computers.
WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) - A wireless security
protocol, specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is
designed to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN)
with a level of security and privacy comparable to that
usually expected of a wired LAN. Security is at two
different levels; 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. The higher
the bit number, the more secure the encryption.
WINS (Windows Internet Naming Service) - Part of the
Microsoft Windows NT Server, WINS manages the
association of workstation names and locations with IP
addresses, without the user or administrator having to be
involved in each configuration change.
WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access - Pre-Shared Key) This wireless encryption method uses a pre-shared key
(PSK) for key management. Keys can usually be entered as
manual hex values, as hexadecimal characters, or as a
Passphrase. WPA-PSK provides a greater degree of
security than WEP.
Zoom lens - A zoom lens can be moved (zoomed) to
enlarge the view of an object to show more detail.
AXIS 240Q - Index 67
Index
D-Sub connector 47
E
A
Accessing the video server 8
Action 22
Action buttons 9, 20
Active/Inactive 9
Active/Inactive (output buttons) 20
Administrators 12
Advanced TCP/IP settings 40
Alarm 22, 25, 48
Allowed IP addresses 34
AMC 10
Anonymous viewing 34
ARP/Ping 39
Auxiliary power 48
AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service 39
B
Backup 44
Bandwidth 57
Buffers 24
C
CGI links 20, 30
Click-in-image 30
Clients/viewers 11
COM ports 49
Connectors 47
Control button 6, 46
Customize 19
D
Date & time 38
DC power 48
Default Viewer 21
Default viewer 21
Digital input 48
DIP switch 6
DNS configuration 40
DNS server 40
Domain name 40
Emergency recovery 51
Enable ARP/Ping 39
Event 22
Event servers 22
Excluded widows 26
External video 21
External video sources 9
F
Factory default settings 46
Frame rates 14, 57
FTP server 22
G
Generic HTTP 49
Generic TCP/IP 49
H
Host name 40
HTML examples 21
HTTP API 20, 30
HTTP port number 40
HTTP server 22
HTTPS 35
I
I/O ports 43
I/O terminal connector 7, 48
Included windows 25
Installing PTZ devices 27
IP address filtering 34
L
Live view config 18
Live View page 9, 12
Logs & Reports 44
M
Motion detection 25
68 AXIS 240Q - Index
N
Network settings 38
NTP server 38
O
Operators 34
Output buttons 9, 20
Own home page 19
Own web files 19
P
Pan Tilt Zoom 49
Pan/Tilt/Zoom 29
Performance 56
Pinout 43
Pinout - I/O connectors 48
Port status 26
Post-trigger buffer 24
Power adapter 7
Preset positions 31
Pre-trigger buffer 24
PTZ 27
PTZ commands 20, 30
PTZ control queue 32
Pulse 9
Pulse (outputs) 20
Q
QoS 41
Quad stream 9
R
Recovery 51
Referrals 34
Relative and absolute PTZ drivers 29
Restart 43
Restore 43
RS-232 serial connector 7
RS-485 48
RTSP 41
S
Scheduled event 22, 24
Security 34
Sequence mode 9, 21
Serial number 7
Snapshot button 10
Source list 9
Support 44
System options 34
T
TCP server 22
TCP/IP Settings 38
Time mode 38
Transistor output 48
Triggered event 22, 23
Troubleshooting 50
U
Upgrade server 43
User defined links 20
Users 34
V
Video inputs 6
Video sources 14
Video streams 10, 14, 15
Viewer settings 21
Viewiing clients 11